Apartment hunting tips and tricks

We know that apartment hunting can sometimes be a drag. But it doesn’t have to be! With the right set of tools and an idea of your must-haves, you can make your search as easy breezy as can be.

1) When you find a community you like, don’t just research it – research the management company: Although the people in the leasing office are your first line of customer service, you also need to know a responsible management company is working behind the scenes. At Fairfield, we take our property management seriously and always want to ensure the best for our residents!

2) Visit the community more than once: To get the best idea of what your new lifestyle will be like, visit at various times throughout the day. Perhaps the daytime atmosphere is different than early evening when everyone is heading back from a day at the office and kids are home from school.
3) Arm yourself with the right tools: It’s crucial to use technology to your benefit when apartment hunting. Here are some of our favorite apps:

–PadMapper Apartment Search: See the rental listings all around you based on your current location.

–Real Estate by Zillow: See homes for sale AND rentals in your area.

–Mokriya Craigslist: Craigslist is an amazing source for apartment hunting, but they don’t offer an app. Enter this free, officially licensed app that will help you search with ease from your mobile device!

Besides apps, be sure to check a community’s Facebook page and social sites to see what kind of a presence they have on there, along with resident interaction and comments. You’ll also benefit from sites like Apartment Ratings and Yelp.com to get real-life resident reviews!

4) List out your must-haves: Make a list of the non-negotiable things you MUST have in your new apartment, along with the things you’d like but would be willing to sacrifice for the right place. Some examples:

Must haves: Great location, pet friendly apartments, swimming pool, 2 bathrooms and well-kept grounds.
Would be nice: More than 900 square feet, granite countertops and assigned parking.

In other words, if a place fit the bill on all your must haves but only have of your “would be nice” list, you’d still go with it. After all, no place is perfect!