What to Look For in Your First Apartment

By Sam Radbil

You’re about to sign your very first lease — congratulations! Before you finalize the deal, there are a few things you should know about renting, from the price, to the walk-through, to the property manager. Try these tips to make sure your first apartment is a success.

1.  Check the Price

While you’re touring a brand-new building with luxurious features like a two-story gym, free WiFi, or a literal robot to park your car for you, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that you’re earning $10 an hour. Before signing any lease, you’ll have to set up a budget so you know what you can afford before you set up any tantalizing showings: Add up all of your monthly expenses, including your prospective rent, food, and your going-out money, and subtract it from your income to see what kind of wiggle room you’ll have. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recommends that you spend no more than 30% of your income on rent to avoid being housing cost-burdened. As a student or recent grad, this might be a difficult rule to follow, but try to stay close to it and keep unexpected expenses in mind.

2.  Tour Extensively

Many properties have specs and photos online, but nothing can replace getting the firsthand experience of the apartment and the neighborhood it’s in.

During the tour, don’t rush: Linger in the rooms a little bit. Look out the windows and keep an ear open for any neighbor or street noise. Check under the sinks and in cabinets for traces of water damage or pest problems. Give the toilets a flush and check out the laundry area. Do the carpets look clean? Are the walls recently painted? These small touches can tell you a lot about the property manager and the building’s typical tenants. If utilities aren’t included, ask what they typically run in the building so you can build that cost into your budget.

3.  Speak with the Manager

You’ll often get the chance to meet the property manager during the tour, and you should attempt to survey them as much as the apartment — after all, they’re your only hope if you have any issues during your lease. Chat about building processes, like how to go about getting maintenance and if there’s anyone on-site to help.

Also use the property manager as a resource to find out apartment details you won’t necessarily be able to see at the showing:

• What’s the average age tenure of the building’s tenants?
• What’s the parking situation like, and does it change at certain times of the day/week/year?
• Are the apartments laid out so that living rooms share walls with next-door living rooms, or is your neighbor’s TV going to be pumping sound into your bedroom?
• Is there an enforced “quiet time” in the building?

Think about the things you do in a typical week, and try to imagine doing them in that apartment. Your apartment is more than just a place to keep your stuff, so it’s important that you love your space, feel safe in it, and can afford it. Follow these tips, and you should find yourself in the best apartment for you.

Sam Radbil is a contributing member of the marketing and communications team at ABODO, an online apartment marketplace.  ABODO was founded in 2013 in Madison, Wisconsin. And in just three years, the company has grown to more than 30 employees, raised over $8M in outside funding and helps more than half a million renters find a new home each month.