4 Tips for 2017 Apartment Hunting

By Ian Acosta on December 26, 2016

This article is brought to you by CORT Furniture Rental. We take the hassle out of furnishing your new place so you can do more important things like read this article. Learn more about why furniture rental is the best way to get a great looking apartment.

A new year means new adventures and opportunities. For some, this means graduating college, starting a new job, moving to a new city, and a multitude of other possibilities. For many, especially young adults, this involves finding a new place to live to help them navigate the next chapter in their young lives.

Between knowing where to search, what comparable prices are, cost of utilities, cost of furniture, and more, it can get overwhelming at times. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when searching for a new apartment in the new year.

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1. Searching

This is where everything begins. As the new year comes, there are millions of people searching for new apartments and seemingly a million places to start looking. Where is a good place to start? Word of mouth is not bad. Ask friends and family in the area which you are thinking of living to see if they have any tips or insight into getting a friendly deal. Connections are never a bad thing to have.

Another route is online listing sites such as Craigslist. Here you can find many different options and a wider variety of prices, locations, apartment sizes and so on. In addition, finding a sublease may end up being easier for those who do not want to sign a formal lease agreement. Be wary, however, as there are many stories of Craigslist deals gone awry.

Another option is to consult apartments.com and similar sites. This allows the potential lessor to enter in specific parameters of their ideal apartment. In addition to that, pictures and much more detailed information are available for viewing to help make the best detailed decision possible. Good research pays off.

2. Renting Furniture

Another tip to keep in mind is renting furniture. More often than not, the apartment you move into will have old, outdated furniture used by countless numbers of people before you. Does not sound too appealing, does it? Consider renting some new couches, end tables, chairs, stools or stands. Not only will it help the look you are trying to create, it will also replace the likely overused, old furniture.

Furthermore, if dealing with the ordeal of moving, you are in luck. By renting furniture, the rental company more often than not will help pitch in a hand to move all of your current belongings up to your new pad.

3. Negotiating

This is a tactic that should always be utilized. If potentially subletting, negotiate a better price. If trying to speak with the leasing company directly, have a conversation about what can be included in rent. You owe it to yourself to get the best price available on everything. Just as connections matter, so does knowing how to best leverage your resources. Obviously, this may not always work but it does not hurt to try.

Imagine having a neighbor who has their parking fees included in their rent and you do not just because you did not make the effort to try and negotiate. Never be afraid to leverage. After all, you are the customer.

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4. Roommates

This factor is a huge determinant in how your whole search will go. Depending on if a potential roommate or two is involved, that can potentially halve or third costs to all involved. The question is how to best manage who to consider as a potential roommate and if it will hold up.

The best advice would be to do two things: search with the thought in mind that you will not live by yourself and do some searches by yourself. No plan ever goes to a tee when it is created. Circumstances arise and you do not want to get put in a situation where you are unprepared. However, for those who have a concrete roommate situation, be sure to follow some basic tips. Visit potential places together; make sure it is within the other’s budget; find a location that works for all; allocate utility bills and so forth.

Searching for an apartment is a tough job. Between all of the hassle of running around and making arrangements to figuring out a comfortable place to live is a tough job. There are numerous avenues of searching out there and each person has their own way of going about it. However, do not let the daunting task of searching deter you from the excitement that comes along with it.

Moving somewhere new is very exciting. New experiences, memories, challenges, and friendships are without a doubt going to come along with living in an apartment. Be sure to make the best of it. Happy apartment hunting!

Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.

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