about to rent my first apartment, any tips?

I'd check out ApartmentRatings.com first. Horror stories on there... Should help you look for things you don't think to look for. Good luck!

demand a hot tub

Don't rent in a place that rents to families. Where there are teenagers, there is petty crime like break-ins and vandalism.

Check the carpet for bloodstains

wouldnt that make me WANT to go to a place that rents to families, to avoid an 18-25 only neighborhood neighborhood?

Take pictures of ANY and all defects when you move IN, so you are not blamed for them if and when you move out. But yes, for your own protection, take pictures, with the date encoded on the picture.

check the door frame and locks for any prior 'kicking ins'

shut up

Ask the landlord for 3 references, like they ask you.

Ask for the last 3 tenants contact info, if they refuse to let you speak to anyone they've rented to previously, they are probably assholes you don't want to deal with.

Yes, good advice to take pictures when you move in and when you also move out to show it is left in good condition.

On move in be sure landlord writes down every imperfection you find in the place.

Also besides the move-in inspection and the move-out inspection there is another little known inspection that you can ask for. It's the pre-move out inspection. By law you can request one where the landlord inspects before you move out. During this inspection they have to tell you everything that needs repair in writing. If you do all that is on the list then there is no way they can withhold your deposit money.

THIS. This is the first thing you do.

Check all the stuff in the apartment: lights, faucets, shower pressure, toilet. Make sure the fridge/stove are working.

Ask the landlord about noise in the building and if there have been complaints. Look to see if the inside and outside are clean and well-maintained.

Its not 18-25 year olds you need to worry about. Its 12 to 17.

Do not get too freindly with your neighbours, they might turn on you someday.

play loud music and see if their is any reaction.
test the limits then you will know how free you really are.

take photos/video of the interior & record/document anything that's busted.

do not buy any replacement furniture if the place is furnished, as your landlord will probably say he wants to keep it if you ever leave there.

X2

Also make sure that you get in writing who or what is responsible for your utilities. I have a friend who is getting bent over for having shared utilities in an older building. She lives in the smallest apartment but has to split the utilites equally. It seemed like a fair deal at first until the bills started arriving.

I know this is not common, but keep it in mind if it becomes part of any deal. The best thing is to have separate meters for all your utilities or as a flat rate included in the monthly rent.

And if you have a chance to informally interview some current tennants...that is always the best. If they are unhappy and locked into a lease...they will be the first ones to tell you about it! Be sure to ask questions in private as you don't want undue pressure to answer questions in a coerced manner when in front of the prospective land lord!

to test the liberality of you neighbours, answer the door naked for the first month or so.

Preferably do this immediately when you move in with a camera with a time stamp. This will ensure that you don't get pinned with 'damages' when they were existing to begin with. This has been used with degrees of success with old friends who enter into an agreement on good terms and leave on less than favorable terms. Land lords can be down right thieves with your deposit money!

When any nieghbours go on a vacation, offer to house sit or just house watch and check things for them daily, feed fishes etc.
that way you can save on your utility costs- this is good especially if neighbous take a winter break.

please for the sake of god only do this if you are a cute chick! too much cellulite and the next knock on your door might be the cops;o)

You can get away with asking for suger or milk for the first month or so- preteding to introduce yourself.
If you have many nieghbours, you can save extra money by storing the suger and get daily milk if you a consistently touring the nieghbouhood with a large jug.

Always take a larger jug.

- Make sure it's quiet. Concrete walls are great.
- Close to 24 hour shopping and public transportation is always good.
- Preferably with a view of something other than a brick wall.
- On a lower floor if possible (elevator breakdowns, power outage, fire, etc.)
- Lots of closet space.
- Newer windows if it's an old building. Window replacement jobs are a pain to go through. Trust me.
- Bathtub with a slanted back.
- Quiet taps, toilet, fridge, etc.
- Mail slot on the door as opposed to mailbox in the lobby.
- All inclusive rent, heat, hot water, phone, cable, etc.
- Amenities.
- Security cameras.
- 24 hour on-call emergency contact.

craigslist

Open up the cupboards and look for cockroaches and mouse shit.

Visit the complex on a weekend when the illegals are off to see if the place is infested with them.

Demand something in the contract that lets you out of it if there is too much noise at 3 in the morning and you cannot sleep and they refuse to do anything about it.

Ask how fast and how much they can go up on your rent.

Try to get an end apartment so you have no neighbors on at least one side of you.

Ask for an apartment next to, over or under a old couple.


.

Take a good hard look for roaches...if they get in your shit you will never get rid of em'

 Thread: OMFG 

U never know who lived there before.....

drive the neighborhood at night to see if undesirables ..do it for 4 nights weekends too..low income neighorhoods have much higher crime..those people have nothing to lose from crime..video the ap with witnesses before signing lease..vedio apt when move out inspection is ging on..landlords protect thierself, you must protect your self..keep the place up and pay rent on time..landlords now report to bad tennant list nationwide.......next landlord will know if you did not pay rent on time and if you busted up the place or left it fifthy

Where is your location, OP?