Apartment Hunting - Be prepared



SEARCH FOR A PROPERTY TO BUY \| SEARCH FOR A PROPERTY TO RENT \| SELL OR RENT YOUR PROPERTY HOME \| INFORMATION - RESOURCES - FAQ \| ARTICLES \| BUYER'S ALERTS \| SELLER'S LOG IN

Relocation Index

Apartment Hunting - Be prepared

If you're on the look out for an apartment right now, you've probably noticed that you're just one amongst hordes of hunters fighting over the newest (and often most luxurious) complexes.

by Graham Hamer

The apartment business is growing increasingly competitive as leasing companies offer bigger and better 'sweeteners' to lure prospective tenants away from their competitors. Finding the right apartment in this kind of "dog-eat-dog" climate, however, requires a little prior knowledge before you begin your search. It really is getting to be a jungle out there.

It used to be that renters began looking for their next apartment just a couple of weeks before their leases were up. Not anymore! More often than not, apartments are snapped up almost as soon as they become available.

In order to have as many alternatives as possible, you should begin apartment hunting at least eight weeks prior to the expiration of your current lease. Owners generally know what their availability will be eight weeks in advance.

Research the apartment community before you visit. Find out if it's worth visiting before you waste the gas money. Check out rental rates and what they include. Some communities don't provide microwaves, for example and, if you don't own a washer and dryer, it's going to make life a whole lot more comfortable to have one in your apartment. Even if you love the location and outlook, lugging your laundry to an on-site facility is going to change your mind pretty quick!

Ask about utilities, too. Many communities pay for water consumption, but many others don't. To help you get a good estimate of anticipated utility costs, ask the community representatives for a ballpark figure of monthly utility expenses. (Then call the utility provider to verify the accuracy of that estimate!)

Before you start your apartment hunt, decide what's negotiable and what's not, then base your eventual decisions on that. For example, if having a security system is top priority with you, don't be swayed by an otherwise great apartment with no security. You'll never have peace of mind without it, so it's worth the extra effort to find another apartment with a system installed.

If your upcoming move is prompted by a rent increase where you live now, take a moment to weigh up the costs of moving. And don't forget to add in the new security deposit, application fees, boxes and packing tape, moving service, and new phone service, among other things. Now ask yourself... does paying an extra few dollars each month seem so awful?

Moving is fraught with emotion and stress, but doing a bit of elementary homework, and starting your apartment hunting early is your best defence against tearing your hair out!

Graham Hamer is co-owner of Hometown-Property.com, where entrepreneurs learn to use the global real estate market, and Property-Seekers.com, your One-Stop-Property Shop for online Real Estate sales and rentals.

International...

List of International Zip Codes... Zip Codes
List of International Post Offices... Post Offices
Great Information on Offshore Investment Havens... Tax-Free
Banks in The Caribbean... Caribbean Banking
List of Country Profiles... Country Profiles

Email Alerts
Properties delivered to your inbox as soon as they are listed
More Info
Sign up today!

For Sale By Owner real estate Business Opportunity
Be your own boss!
More Info

Housing market - boom or bust?
Is your area booming or is it all doom and gloom?
Tell us what you think

Our Platinum Selection

Five of today's top-rated properties...

Detached House, Aylesford, Nova Scotia, Canada		Canada
... Bedrooms: 2 - Location: Mountains		CAD144,900.00 (USD141,118.04)

Detached House, Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada		Canada
Pride of ownership is evident throughout this 4 bedroom, 2 bath, split entry home in welcoming Berwick. The oil furnace, chimney & oil flue were installed in 2004. The 10 x 28 deck spans almost the entire back of the house with patio doors leading into the dining room. Perfect for summer BBQs, watch... Bedrooms: 4 - Location: Inland		CAD134,500.00 (USD130,989.48)

Single Family Home, Parkers Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada		Canada
Located in the peaceful fishing village of Parkers Cove, this 3 bed 1 bath home is a stone throw away from the coast line and with its ocean view would make an ideal cottage, summer or year around home. A double garage and 16x16 outbuilding combined with large utility room and porch, this property p... Bedrooms: 3 - Location: Near Beach		CAD54,000.00 (USD52,590.57)

Duplex, Morden, Nova Scotia, Canada		Canada
This over/under duplex is a great investment property or home with in-law suite. The Two - 2 bedroom units have an excellent rental history with no lack of interested tenants. Upper unit pays $450 and lower $375. Tenants pay their own utilities. Many upgrades have been completed over the past two ye... Bedrooms: 4 - Location: Coastal		CAD99,000.00 (USD96,416.05)

Manufactured Home, Port George, Nova Scotia, Canada		Canada
Beautiful, almost new, one level living with acreage. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on just over 10 acres of land is situation only minutes from the Bay of Fundy. Acreage offers grapevines, high-bush blueberries, apple trees, open fields, forest and tree-lined driveway. Large Master bedroom features h... Bedrooms: 3 - Location: Coastal		CAD132,000.00 (USD128,554.73)


	You can easily link to Property-Seekers by copying and pasting the following HTML into your web site... <a href="http://www.property-seekers.com">http://www.property-seekers.com</a> - the best Real Estate Web Site on the Net

© 2006 - Internet Marketing Limited. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our
Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions.

Property-Seekers is an Internet Marketing Limited web site and is based at:

GLOBAL OFFICE
#3, 20 Hampton Villas, Farmhill
Douglas
Isle of Man IM2 2NH
Great Britain

NORTH AMERICAN OFFICE RR#1, Hwy 1 Civic #428
Deep Brook
Nova Scotia B0S 1J0
Canada

e-trust-e Member Seal. Before you buy, click to verify!

DISCLAIMER:
Internet Marketing Limited, for themselves, for the operators of Property-Seekers and for the vendors or lessors of those properties that are listed on Property-Seekers, give notice that the property particulars do not constitute any part of an offer or a contract. All statements contained in the particulars to properties listed at Property-Seekers are made without responsibility on the part of Internet Marketing Limited, Property-Seekers or the vendors or lessors. None of the statements contained in these particulars as to these properties are to be relied on as statements or representations of fact and any intending purchasers or lessees must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each of the statements contained in these particulars. The vendor or lessors do not make or give and neither Internet Marketing Limited nor any person in their employment, has any authority to make or give any representation of warranty whatever in relation to these properties.

RELATED WEBSITES