8 Tips for Renting the Right Apartment

Written by dan the roommate man


So, you're looking for an apartment to rent or share with a roommate. Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced apartment-hunter, it's worth takingrepparttar time to decide what's most important to you in where you live and to plan your search strategy accordingly. With that in mind, here are eight tips to consider:

1. Make a list of your top housing priorities.

Do you need extra parking spaces? A place that welcomes pets? A large kitchen or linen closet? A ground-floor entrance to your home? Or what? Thinking through your needs ahead of time can help you find an apartment that meets those needs, instead of one that just strikes your fancy at first glance.

2. Check outrepparttar 110471 property.

In addition to examiningrepparttar 110472 condition ofrepparttar 110473 for-rent unit, walk throughrepparttar 110474 property to see whether it appears to be well-maintained. Isrepparttar 110475 landscaping healthy or dying? Nicely trimmed or growing wild? Are any windows, steps or railings broken or dangerous? Dorepparttar 110476 access doors open easily and shut tightly? Walk through at night, too. Arerepparttar 110477 parking areas and pathways well lit? What aboutrepparttar 110478 stairwells and hallways?

3. Talk torepparttar 110479 neighbors.

If you're serious about a particular apartment, knock on a few doors and ask your potential neighbors whether they're satisfied withrepparttar 110480 building's amenities, management's responsiveness to repair needs and other issues of concern to you. Ask: Would you tell a friend to move into this building?

4. Examinerepparttar 110481 lease.

A lease is a legal obligation to pay rent for a specified length of time, and every lease has variations onrepparttar 110482 terms and conditions of tenancy. How much notice must you give before moving atrepparttar 110483 end ofrepparttar 110484 lease term? Canrepparttar 110485 rent be increased? Are pets allowed? What provisions cover your security deposit and end-of-lease cleaning costs? Ifrepparttar 110486 terms ofrepparttar 110487 lease agreement don't suit your needs, negotiate or reconsider rentingrepparttar 110488 apartment.

Evicted With Nowhere to Go

Written by dan the roommate man


You couldn't afford to payrepparttar rent this month, but you were too scared to approach your landlord. Now you've come home to find a bright yellow Eviction notice taped to your front door. A million things zoom through your mind. What are you going to do? You can't afford to makerepparttar 110470 rent payment on your own.

You can't afford your rent... but you can't afford to ignorerepparttar 110471 situation either. You should seek assistance immediately after receiving an Eviction notice. Waiting and worrying will only intensifyrepparttar 110472 negative situation. If you're lucky, you have friends, family members, or a local church that can all pitch in and help you out... but sometimes this simply isn't possible.

If, for some reason you can't find help through family or friends, and you are unemployed or didn't make enough money this month, you will need to investigate some government assistance programs to find out whether or not you qualify for financial aid.

The Department of Human Services emergency assistance program may be able to provide you with some relief. If your family has not received an emergency assistance check withinrepparttar 110473 past 12 months, and you do not receive worker's compensation (ADC or GR), you may be eligible for a special payment equal to one month's regular welfare check. This check can take care ofrepparttar 110474 missed rent and utility bill.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use