Monday, January 3, 2011

New Year, New Apartment

It's 2011, and perhaps it's time to ring the new year with a new apartment.  You've come to the right place!  2FindYourApartment is your source for finding your next pad.

Just in case you need more advice - here are a few things to beware of to prevent you from making the wrong apartment choice.

1. There is no phone number for the maintenance person.

Seriously?  What if you get locked out of your apartment?  What if your toilet overflows in the middle of the night? Most apartments have someone that tenants can call – even after hours – if something major goes wrong. Inquire about how many maintenance people work on the property, how to get in touch with them, and when they are available.

2. While you are touring the property, an angry tenant chases down the landlord with a problem.

It could be the sign of an obsessive compulsive tenant, but it's also a clear indication of a bad landlord. You want the landlord to be attentive and responsive to your needs while you live there, so make sure that the people currently living there seem to be taken care of. Make sure you ask how tenants’ problems are addressed, and what the typical problems consist of.

3. There's a burglary bulletin board in the office, or even worse a police officer meeting with the manager.

Be aware of the area's crime rates. You want to feel safe in your apartment. You want to make sure and check out the area you are living in, not only the apartment complex itself.

4. Your landlord won’t show you an actual unit until you’ve signed the contract.

That's a clear warning sign of trouble.  You wouldn’t buy a car you had never laid eyes on, so should you really agree to live in an apartment you’ve never seen? Make sure you see the apartment you would be living in before you sign anything.

5. The pool is filled with screaming children.

This is where you plan on bronzing every day after work or school, scoping out potential hotties, and cooking out with friends on the weekends. Aww cute! Little kids splashing about. This isn’t the tropical paradise you had envisioned. Make sure that the surroundings are conducive to the type of lifestyle you lead.

6. There is no parking. And it’s Monday morning.

Either the complex serves as a neighborhood parking lot, or there isn’t sufficient parking for the residents. Both of these would be a problem, and could make or break it for you.

7. Next to the Management designated parking space is one that reads “Orkin Man.”

A permanent parking space for the bug guy could indicate a persistent pest control problem.

8. On your tour, you pass by residents holding signs that read “Don’t move here!”

One of the best sources you have on your apartment search is current residents. Talk to them before signing anything.

9. The apartment isn’t listed on 2findyourapartment.com

We are Western New York's premier source for apartments!  Any more questions?