apartments tips
http://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/2rwneo/lpt_request_when_apartment_searching_what_are/
older, but also good
http://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/19koc5/lpt_request_tips_for_a_first_apartment/
Falls at Sandy Springs, HUGE rooms, cheap
http://www.trulia.com/rental-community/9000055854/Falls-at-Sandy-Springs-5555-Roswell-Rd-Sandy-Springs-GA-30342/
Ashford Park, price upper, good reviews
http://www.trulia.com/rental-community/9000047331/Ashford-Park-2000-Asbury-Sq-Atlanta-GA-30346/
The Cascade at Morgan Falls, CHEAP, might be good
http://www.trulia.com/rental-community/9000047747/The-Cascade-at-Morgan-Falls-8085-Adair-Ln-Sandy-Springs-GA-30350/
Glen Lake
http://www.trulia.com/rental-community/9000056650/Glen-Lake-6901-Glenlake-Pkwy-Atlanta-GA-30328/#photo-6
Lodge on the Chattahoochee
http://www.rent.com/georgia/sandy-springs-apartments/lodge-on-the-chattahoochee-4-432902
* Looks good but is it all hardwood flooring?
* Distance to garbage (general situation) (recycling on site)
* how old/ renovated?
* elevator?
Hannover Grand at Sandy Springs, upper range, good reviews
http://www.rent.com/georgia/sandy-springs-apartments/hannover-grand-at-sandy-springs-4-441996
Charleston Court
http://www.rent.com/georgia/sandy-springs-apartments/charleston-court-4-351340
Harbor Pointe, CHEAP, good reviews
http://www.rent.com/georgia/sandy-springs-apartments/hannover-grand-at-sandy-springs-4-441996
AMLI Perimiter Gardens, upper range, great reviews, wierd floor plan
http://www.rent.com/georgia/dunwoody-apartments/amli-perimeter-gardens-4-611831
Lacota Apartments, decent reviews, cheap, big rooms
http://www.rent.com/georgia/dunwoody-apartments/lacota-4-432691
- Check for cell reception.
- Check the water pressure on cold, on hot, on both, and how long it takes to get warm.
- Bring a socket tester and test all outlets. Also make sure there are enough outlets in each room, and enough 3-prong ones.
- Check to see if you have a designated parking spot (and assure its cost, if any, is satisfactory). How many visitors can you have at a time & is that enough for you? On a Fri/Sat night, or any other evening/night, are there even any available spots? What happens if someone takes your spot?
- An experienced landlord is usually better to deal with than an inexperienced one.
- 1st floor apartments are most convenient for thieves, and the most frequently broken into.
- Be wary of any musty smells that could indicate water damage. Too many air fresheners may be an attempt to hide this.
- Drive through the area during rush hour if commuting via car.
Inspect, means take pictures of...
- Inspect tops of cabinets, behind stove/fridge, for poop. If there are red/brown stains in the corners where the ceiling meets the walls, it's bed bugs. If there is a line of white powder along the baseboards, it can mean roaches, but more likely bedbug treatment has been performed. White powder behind fridge, stove, etc. is usually boric acid or diatomaceous earth used to treat roaches. Brown or tan kernel sized paste is also used against roaches. Check the Bed Bug Registry online and ask if the building has a history of any pest problems.
- Inspect drawer under the oven and kitchen drawers.
- Fill all sinks/tubs. Drain simultaneously and flush each toilet during.
- Ask the neighbors what the worst part of the building, street, neighborhood is.
- Get an idea of the general price range of utilities such as heat and AC for the unit. Ask neighbors in similar units the general price range for heating/cooling.
- An apartment with laundry facilities will save you money. If they don't have them, check the prices/quality of the nearest ones.
- Request to see the exact unit you will be moving into, NOT a showcase apartment. If they refuse to at least show you an actual unit, be suspicious.
- Find out who does the maintenance (some handyman, a legit company, the landlord?). What are their policies on work orders? Can they be submitted online? What is their response time guarantee for after hours emergencies? If it's just a single landlord and not a property management company, do they have someone you can call when they go on vacation and the hot water heater breaks?
- Check your responsibilities as a tenant. After moving in many landlords require you to pay the cost of a stopped up toilet, pest infestations, and require you to shovel snow from sidewalk/mow the grass on areas around the house, or clean gutters. They may also require you to pay the cost to fix supplied appliances.
- Dress well, and ask for a discount.
- If the leasing agent or landlord promises to do something before you move in, it needs to be written into the lease or it may not happen.
- Find out the policy on smoking, pets, noise, and visitors.
- If you must break the lease, what are the consequences/options?
- Research state tenant's rights laws.
- Make sure you're completely clear on all terms of the lease and know what utilities you'll be paying and what payment method you'll need to use.
- What's in close walking distance? (food, bars, stores, etc)
- Look up crime statistics for the area and ask the police how often they have been called to the street/complex in the last 6 months.
- Assure the unit has adequate storage space for your needs.
- Try to get a look at as many different options in the area as possible so you can see if what they're offering is competitively priced for the size/type of unit you're seeking.
- If touring multiple units, take pictures of each for later comparison. When you decide on one, time-stamp photograph any damage and make sure landlord is notified of it in writing prior to move-in so you aren't blamed for it later.
- Call a pizza place and see if they deliver there after dark. If not, the place may have a history as being unsafe.
- Make sure there's an Internet provider suitable to your preferences.
- Google your potential new landlord. Look up online property records in the county you are in. Slumlords will generally have lots of liens against them and/or have multiple properties in foreclosure.
- When scoping out potential neighborhoods, check out the local grocery stores to get a good sense of the type of people that live in that neighborhood. Also check the closest gas station late at night.
- If there's a homeowner's association, find out its rules.
- What's the average rental time for apartments in the building? If people aren't staying long, it's a bad sign.
Gist: e4fe29b4cd5dbb817f95