|
|
|
|
Picking the right location is often the most important thing to many people. Choosing
the right location has a number of considerations.
|
|
|
|
It’s important to consider how you will get from your apartment to your workplace.
If you are not familiar with the drive, it’s a good idea to give it a try during
a morning and evening rush hour. Also if you have other destinations that you visit
regularly such as family, close friends, hobbies and other non-work related interests,
consider how they mix in your commute.
|
|
|
|
Generally speaking, you will get more “value” the further out from town you live.
That is to say you get more bang (a bigger apartment with more features) for your
buck. However the trade off to being further out of town is often a longer commute
time into town.
|
|
|
|
For example, you may enjoy a sprawling surburban feel with big box retail shopping
and neighborhoods that are generally family-occupied. If you are living intown,
you will find more specialty stores and neighborhoods likely to be filled with a
diverse group of people.
|
|
|
Generally speaking, apartment owners want you to earn 3 to 4 times your monthly
rent. If you have a roommate, you can include what they make also. However, income
qualification policies can vary widely and change frequently without notice. Check
with the apartment management before you apply.
|
|
|
Policies on the use of credit rating services will vary from apartment to apartment.
Different apartment owners place more weight on your credit than others. There are
some, although not many, that may not even check your credit, but most do. It is
not uncommon for people to have minor problems on their credit report. If you have
never rented before or have more serious credit issues such as a bankruptcy, you
may want to consider disclosing this in advance - some apartments will approve you
and some won’t.
If you think your credit puts you at risk for approval, be careful to make sure
you understand the apartment’s credit policy and their policy around application
fees, leasing fees and deposits. You don’t want to waste any money applying if you
may be denied. Be sure to make sure you have a CLEAR AND WRITTEN understanding of
how any money you pay in the application process is treated if you are not approved
or change your mind. You can also use the sort tool on our site to sort your listings
by lowest application fees and identify the apartments that have no or low application
fees to minimize your lost application fee risk.
|
|
|
It is very common for apartments to charge an application fee and/or a leasing fee.
This will vary from apartment to apartment and most will not hold an apartment for
you without some deposit. Before you apply, pay any fees or deposits, be sure you
have a CLEAR and WRITTEN understanding of what will happen to your money if you
are not approved or change your mind. It’s also important when you do pay your security
deposit that you have a CLEAR and WRITTEN understanding in your lease of the rules
of return to you of your deposit.
|
|
After you searched our site, found apartments that you like, and are ready to visit
the properties, here are a few tips on the process and what to expect.
Call the property before you visit to confirm availability and pricing on the floor
plans that interest you and consider the best time to visit. The busiest days for
property are usually Saturday, Monday and Friday. When the property staff is busy,
you may have to wait your turn for a meeting and property visit and generally speaking,
you may just get less time and attention. The slowest days at the property are Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday. If because of your schedule you need to visit on one of
the busier days, it’s best to plan to be there when the leasing office opens. Check
the office hours on our site or call the property staff - it’s best to avoid the
lunchtime hours and not to show up at the end of the day. Also feel free to ask
the agent who takes your call when it is best to visit.
When you arrive at the leasing office, generally you will be asked to complete a
guest card. Be sure to write on your guest card that you are working with rentmoney.
This is required to ensure you will get your cash back from us. It’s how the apartments
know to pay us and we can pay you.
Also remember, you will be required to present a government-issued identification,
such as a driver’s license or passport in order to see an apartment. Be sure to
have this on hand.
|
|
|
|
If possible, you want to see the specific unit you will occupy or a unit like it.
Sometimes this is not possible as it may not be vacant yet or it’s not clean and
ready to show. If it is occupied, you may want to request that they make arrangements
with the occupant to see it. Some apartments will do this, some won’t.
|
|
|
|
We are not attorneys and can not provide you legal counsel. Any lease agreement
you sign is a serious BINDING LEGAL CONTRACT and you should read it carefully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
