Guide for Online Apartment Searching

By Lorena Roberts on November 19, 2017

Searching for an apartment can be time-consuming, disappointing, frustrating, and overwhelming. But since apartment listings have been able to migrate to the web, it’s much easier to get your ducks in a row.

If you’re beginning your online apartment search, here are a few tips you should take note of.

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1. Know what you want

Whether or not you want to live with roommates, if you need a washer/dryer in the unit, or if you need to be within walking distance of a Starbucks are all really important aspects of apartment searching. Walking into this blind is not a good move. If you haven’t decided on what you want out of an apartment, spend some time looking through apartment listings without getting serious. Once you get a feel for what’s out there, you’ll be able to narrow down what it is that you want.

2. Know what you can afford

Budgeting is a big part of having an apartment. Sometimes utilities are included, but for the most part, they aren’t. Knowing how much you can afford in rent and utilities every month is really important. Staying within your price range might be tough, but if you settle on a price you cannot go above, you’ll be limited to only what you can afford.

There’s no reason to look at million dollar houses if you only have 100K to spend, right? Don’t do it to yourself. You’ll fall in love with the one that you really can’t afford and you’ll have to take out monthly loans from your parents. That’s not a situation anyone really wants to be in.

3. Decide on a list of “must-haves”

If you absolutely cannot live in a place that doesn’t allow pets, limit your search by places that do! If you can’t live more than a few miles from a major interstate, or if you need to live with at least one other person, that’s important to know walking into the whole situation.

If you decide on what you absolutely must have before you even start looking, you won’t be persuaded to talk yourself in and out of things you haven’t decided on.

Personally, having a washer and dryer was incredibly important to me. I didn’t want to walk to a clubhouse or visit a laundromat every week or so. I like having the ability to wash my sheets whenever I feel like they need it without having to carve extra time out of my schedule.

Another thing I absolutely wanted was a dishwasher. I hate hand washing dishes, so I won’t live in a place without one. This is tougher search criteria, but it’s much easier to make a decision about a place that doesn’t have what’s on my list of “must-haves.”

4. Set boundaries for areas of town you want to live in

Some people don’t want to live near train tracks or certain attractions in town. Others want to be smack in the middle of the action. If you limit your search to areas of town you truly want to live in, you’ll make it easier to decide on a place.

If you’re moving to a University town, you may or may not want to live near the strip of clubs and eateries that these college students frequent.

You may also want to check out the recent crime in the area where you’re looking to live. This isn’t to scare you but instead is meant to reassure you about where you’re looking to move. You don’t want to be living in the middle of high crime rates, so checking on this online can help you narrow down your preferred areas.

You’ll also want to think about your commute. How far away do you want to be from the office? The grocery store? A gas station? All good things to consider as you begin searching for an apartment.

5. If it’s too good to be true …

Then it’s probably not true. Don’t let yourself fall for a scam. Even if you’re on a reputable apartment listing website. It can sometimes be easy to fall for the jerks who con you into making bad decisions. If the application process feels rushed or your gut feeling is that it’s not right, it’s probably not.

Be careful out there.

6. Use the avenues you know!

Posting on social media for apartment recommendations will usually get you some pretty honest feedback. Depending on how many Facebook friends or Twitter followers that you have, you might be able to navigate around the crappy complexes with ease! Recommendations from people you trust are like golden eggs.

7. Do NOT use Craigslist

I don’t know anyone who’s had a good experience on Craigslist. So just stay away from it. You know that one time when you accidentally clicked on the personal ads? The apartment/rental listings are just as horrifying but less obviously vulgar. I would not recommend.

When it comes to searching for an apartment online, make sure you draw your boundaries and know what you want. If you feel weird about it, don’t pursue it. Trust your instincts.

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