How to Shop for Your First Apartment Home: Tips to Live By on Your First Apartment Search!

Moving Out of Your Parent's House? Here are a few key pointers to help you find the PERFECT place for your first apartment. 

There comes a time in everyone’s life when it’s time to move on. Time to leave home, time to graduate from college, time to take a job somewhere different. No matter why you’re moving on, you’re going to need somewhere to live once the move’s been made. Now, if the idea of picking an apartment seems as daunting as pulling a jumbo jet with just your pinkie finger, never fear. As an experienced (and successful) apartment shopper, I’ve got the process boiled down into a few basic steps to make the process as easy as it can be.

1. Money, money, money. Before you even start shopping, figure out your budget. What can you afford? Remember, this isn’t just in rent, but in renter’s insurance, water, electric, cable, your car payment and insurance, what it’ll cost you to travel to work, to eat, savings, student loans, etc. Take that number on rent and housing bills and cement it in concrete in your mind. You can compromise on a lot of things, but don’t ever let your wallet be one of them.

2. What are you looking for? Once you’re sure about your price range, figure out your list of wants and needs. Here’s an example of what my list looked like.

Wants	Needs
Open floor plan	2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
2 sinks in master bathroom	No more than 25 minutes from work
Top floor of building	Pool and fitness center on site
Garage	Lots of storage

 3. Do your homework. Before you seriously consider anywhere, do some causal shopping (if you can visit the area) and use the Internet (we used apartments.com) to get an idea of what’s available in your area and price range. Eliminate places that don’t match your “Needs” column and develop a list of the places you want to seriously consider. Then, build your Binder.

4. The Binder: Your apartment search Bible. Each place to be considered should have its own section. In the section for each one, put any materials collected in the casual shopping phase, like publications given to you at the leasing office, floor plans, etc. At the front of the binder was a notebook for taking notes during the formal shopping phase and a checklist of wants. The more checks a place got during our visit, the higher up on our list it went.

5. Then, it’s time to shop, seriously. Devote at least two days to visiting different apartments and plan to spend 45 minutes to an hour at each one. When you get there, take your license (they’ll need to show you places) and bring your binder with you. People will either be aghast or impressed, but either way, they’re more likely to take you seriously. Typically, the leasing agent will show you the facilities and take you to see a model or a vacant unit and talk with you about the complex. Take pictures on your phone and notes in your notebook. If you see something you like, request a quote based on your availability. Prices can fluctuate literally from day to day, but the quote they give you traditionally lasts 48 hours so you’ve got time to decide.

6. And the winner is…After a long and exhausting shopping trip, go get a nice dinner, have a glass of something you enjoy and consider your options. Consider the materials in each section, your checklist at the front of the Binder, your notes, your pictures and the gut feeling you had when standing in the apartment. Weigh each of these variables carefully, then make a choice. Pick the one that’s right for you, fill out the application (most are online) and get ready for a lot more paperwork. But, in the meantime, congratulations! You’ve found an apartment!

This may look like a lot to go through, but trust me, it’s worth it in the end. You’ll be so grateful for your Binder and that you took the time to work your way through the process. It’ll all turn out great in the end and before you know it, you’ll be saying, “Home sweet home” in your new digs.

Here is a great place to Start

ESSENTIAL Cleaning Tools for Every Apartment Home

10 Cleaning Tools Every Home Should Have

 

 

1. Sponge: There are a huge variety of sponges out there. It's nice to have a mix of regular sponges, some with an abrasive side, and then some with a microfiber side to tackle just about any dirty surface. If you plan on reusing a sponge, don't forget to clean it!

2. White Towels: I always keep a ton of white towels on hand. I picked up a couple of sets of organic cotton towels from Crate&Barrel, but you can find packs of these just about anywhere, even at the hardware store. They'll always match, you'll know when they're dirty, and they can be easily bleached and disinfected without getting ruined. An eco-friendly alternative is cut up old t-shirts.

3. Squeegee: These little tools are a must-have for keeping showers mold-free. They also work great on windows if that's a part of your cleaning regimen.

4. Microfiber Cloths: Just like the white towels, getting a ton of these to keep on hand is super helpful. Microfiber can often get surfaces clean on its own or with just a little water, and shouldn't scratch or leave streaks behind.

5. Spray Bottle: Keep spray bottles on hand if you ever need to rinse something off with water, or like to make your own cleaners.

6. Broom, Dustpan and Mop: This is obvious. If you have any hard surfaces like wood, tile, cork, and linoleum, you will need a broom and mop to get them clean. Dustpans help with the process, and of course are crucial for quickly cleaning up any spills.

7. Vacuum: Whether it's a Roomba or a Dyson vacuum, these machines help keep floors clean and allergies at bay.

8. Bucket: A nice sized bucket can not only stow your cleaning supplies, but also be used for mopping, or any other of a multitude of household tasks.

9. Scrub Brush: A sponge or cloth isn't always going to work, so keep a bristle scrub brush on hand to use on tough stains.

10. Toothbrush: When you need something a little more detailed than a scrub brush, a toothbrush is a great option. Disinfect some old toothbrushes and put them to work on grout, sink rims and all the other nooks and crannies in your house.

10 Necessary Essentials for Every Home - Guide for Living

1. An emergency light source. Keep a flashlight, candles and matches, or a Candela easily accessible (and charged, as the case may be). I hope you never need this, but if you do, you'll be greatly relieved to have it.

2. Towels. You may be an extreme minimalist who showers at the gym, but everyone needs towels at home. At the very least, two bathroom towels and two kitchen towels.

3. Basic utensils. A fork, a knife, a spoon. Even if you've never cooked in your life, you may hate the cheap knives that come with your delivery food or may forget a fork for your take-out salad.

4. A small toolset. A hammer, a flat-head screwdriver, a phillips head screwdriver, and pliers will suffice. You may not believe me, but you'll end up using it — to stop a running toilet, hang a picture, pry open a paint can, etc.

5. Bedding. A necessity, of course. And, if you're over the age of 20 and are still sleeping on your sheets from grade school, you need new bedding.

6. A small cleaning kit. Spills and mistakes happen, even if you have a cleaning lady. Your kit may contain only Dr. Bronner's and a sponge, but you'll use it at some point (hopefully regularly, to keep your place nice and clean).

7. An extra set of keys. Years ago, I gave a spare set of keys to my brother. I've only needed to call him for them once, but it was a huge relief. Alternately, if you're forever misplacing things, you can keep an extra set by the door. Use it on days that you really can't find your primary keys.

8. Art. When we were dating, my husband lived for a year in an apartment with beige walls and no art anywhere. It was not cool and minimal — it was sad and depressing. (He now admits this himself.) Frame a sentimental postcard, buy a reprint of a favorite painting, browse Etsy or local art fairs — just get something on the walls to make your home more warm and personal.

9. A comfy place to sit. Have one place you can cozy up for long phone calls, read books, have a good cry, or just stare at the wall. After all, your home is your sanctuary from the world.

10. One thing you really love. A framed drawing by your niece. A vase from your sweetie. A memento from a favorite vacation. Display one item that brings you joy, no matter how often you see it.