As August rounds the corner and the heat revs up one last time before fall, many of us collegiettes™ or recent college grads are looking forward to moving out of our family homes once more. Some of us can’t wait to move onto campus in dorms or suites, but a ton of us are gearing up to explore the uncharted territories of life off campus instead. Some leases have been signed, while some collegiettes™ are still searching for that perfect pad, and some girls are even thinking about NEXT fall’s housing, but one thing all future renters have in common are lots and lots of questions. And since most colleges don’t have classes in Apartment 101, and off-campus housing offices can be full of red tape and empty desks, Her Campus is here to help you prepare before you make the leap into your new abode. If you need more assistance to searching for apartments close to your school, there are many apartment listings and websites that can help.
1. Landlords and Real Estate Agents are business partners, not friends.
You’re her buyer, not her BFF.
As you begin to look at apartments it can be tempting to befriend your agent. She’s offering apartment after apartment, each laced with the scent of freedom and future parties. However, it is important to remember that these are business people and they are only showing you these places because it is their job. In turn, treat searching for an apartment like a job, too. You are in the business of finding a home that pleases you, your roommates, and, possibly, your parents. Don’t worry about hurting an agent’s feelings or getting on her bad side. It is her job to please you, and if you aren’t happy, find a new agent.
Don’t take their word as law.
Remember, they want the apartment to look its best because they are focused on a sale. Research the places you are looking at by talking to former tenants or people who live nearby. They will give you their honest opinion about the apartment, the neighborhood and the landlord, which is crucial information.
Keep your conversations honest and professional.
This is especially important when you have selected a place to live. Make your emails more formal than you think they should be, just as if you were talking to your boss. This will keep you on good terms with either your landlord or real estate agent and keep you from seeming too casual. Also if, heaven forbid, you have to take your landlord to court like my roommates and I did, your case will have much more credibility if your correspondence is polite.
[pagebreak]
2. Ask lots of questions.
Do you remember that kid in middle school whose hand would shoot up with a question at least 20 times per class? Well, when it comes to apartment rental, that kid would have a great advantage. There is a lot you need to learn about an apartment before you should sign the lease.
Get the basics before you look.
Ben Kassoy, an Emory ‘10 Her Campus contributing writer and current apartment hunter, suggests asking about:
- The number of beds and baths
- The closest subway
- If there’s a walkup
- Where the closest grocery store is
- Whether or not there’s air conditioning, a washer/dryer and a dishwasher
- What the parking laws are in the area/if is a parking space available
- What the subletting policy is
- What the neighbors are like
- If pets are allowed
- Why the previous tenants left
And don’t be hit by hidden fees—find out now:
- Is there a broker’s or application fee?
- Is it extra for a parking space?
- Are any utilities included in the rent?
- Does rent stand to increase from year to year?
- Is there a subletting fee?
- What are others in that building paying?
- What are others paying in nearby buildings?
It’s a lot of information, but you’ll be glad when you know the deal before you step into the vestibule.
Get the low-down on security.
Ask about the crime rate in the area and if there have been any recent break-ins. Make sure all of the locks on the doors are functioning. Find out if there is 24-hour surveillance and/or a concierge. The safety of a college campus can make collegiettes™ complacent in regards to security, but it is something you should definitely be aware of. And don’t forget about fire safety; “ask about fire extinguishers/alarms, and make sure they’re working,” adds Gennifer Delman, a current renter and HC Contributing Writer from Hofstra University.
[pagebreak]
3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate.
Once you have settled on your dream pad (or the closest to it that you can afford), don’t settle for the rent they are asking right away. When my college roommates and I first moved off campus our landlord wanted to increase the rent by $300 from what the current residents were paying. We were able to bring that down to a $100 increase by negotiating with our landlady. And even if the rent is acceptable, often utilities or parking spaces can be compromised on as well. It is a good idea to ask if they can be included in the rent, even if it is just to save you and your roommates the hassle of dealing with multiple bills each month.
4. Read, read, read the lease.
In the age of computer agreements for almost any website, many of us have lost the will to read everything we agree to. However, this cannot be the case with your lease. Make sure you, your roommates, your cosigner and, in a perfect world, a lawyer read over your lease. A lawyer is especially helpful because they can read between the lines of some of the stipulations. And if you have any questions about the lease, ask a lawyer before signing. The document can be pretty easily edited before it is signed, even with just a penned-in line or two. But, once you sign, it’s over. You cannot negotiate or edit the lease without a great deal of pain and paperwork. That is why this is a tremendously important step in the process; it can keep you from a great deal of hassle and headaches moving forward.
5. Find out whom to call.
On campus, whether your bedroom light burnt out or there was a rat in your kitchen, you were told exactly who to contact. In an apartment, however, that information is not always given right away. Before you move in, make sure you know whom to call in case of trouble with plumbing, electrical, heating/cooling, extermination and general repair issues. Your landlord is responsible for getting these fixed, and should have numbers for the services he prefers. Issues often arise, and it will be much more convenient to contact someone who can fix the problem directly instead of letting your landlord handle it in his own good time.
[pagebreak]
6. Sharing an apartment is like running a small business.
Rooming together in an apartment is an entirely different concept than living together on campus. When you are paying bills together everything becomes a little more personal. To avoid money wars, it’s best to have a plan before you even set foot in the apartment. My roommates and I set up a joint account into which we would all put money each month. Our utilities were not included in our rent, so when the bills came we would take turns dividing them up. One of my roommates volunteered to put her name on everything to keep everything consistent, while another played treasurer and made sure everyone paid on time. This worked very well for us, but another scenario may work better for you. The key is to have a plan and make sure everyone understands and agrees to it.
7. Document everything.
This not only refers to leases, applications and receipts (oh my!), but also to all things relating to your landlord and your apartment. The day you move in, you should walk through the apartment with your landlord and write down every little scratch, dent or radiator coming off the wall that you can find. This is called a “Move-In Inspection Report.” It is supposed to be provided by your landlord, but it can also be found online here. This report is very important because when you move out you can prove that nothing was ruined or drastically altered.
You also should document every correspondence you have with your landlord. Verbal agreements are easily made and easily broken, as there is no physical proof that they ever existed. “If you ever agree to anything on the phone with your landlord make sure you get it on paper or email as well,” advises Lisa Lantero, an attorney in Chicago (and my aunt). If my roommates and I had done that in our first apartment, our small claims case would have gone much smoother, or may have not been necessary at all.
Your camera is your best friend. In addition to written documents, pretend you are the Clinton and Stacy of apartments: take a lot of “before and after” footage. It can be video or photo, but the key is to take pictures of each room and specific pictures of any damage that already exists in the apartment before you move in. This is another preventative measure to ensure that you get your entire security deposit back and don’t have trouble with landlord accusations down the road.
Moving into your first apartment is thrilling, stressful, exciting and scary at the same time. The world of lease agreements and landlords can seem very foreign to the inexperienced lessee. However, armed with these tips and a head full of questions, you can rent a dream pad and save yourself some stress while you’re at it.
Sources:
Small Claims court article
Lisa Lantero, Attorney
Ben Kassoy, Contributing Writer
Gennifer Delman, Contributing Writer
Move In Inspection Report