4 Reasons to Visit an Apartment in Person Before Subletting

By Elise Nelson on June 30, 2017

The end of the semester has arrived so you might have seen a strange word pop up on apartment listings recently: sublet. If you’ve never apartment-hunted before, you might not know what this means. A sublet, or a sublease, according to Merriam-Webster, is when a resident “allows someone to use an apartment, house, etc., that they are renting for a period of time in return for payment.”

So, you might want to become a subtenant and finish a lease agreement for another student that would like to go home for the summer without having to still pay rent. Many people say that this is a great idea if you need a temporary home for a cheaper amount of money. Before you jump in and agree to sublet, ideally it’s best to visit the apartment in person.

Image via Pixabay.com

This isn’t always possible, especially if you live far away from the apartment, but you should really peek at the place somehow before you move in. So, here are four reasons why it’s important to check out an apartment before agreeing to sublet, and four alternatives for if you can’t.

1. You can meet the landlord

Subletting isn’t always permitted in a lease agreement. The decision to allow a sublease is really up to the apartment’s landlord, not the residents. There are a number of reasons why a landlord might not want subtenants, but their residents might not agree with them and decide to sublet without permission.

So, you should double-check with the property owner before agreeing to move in. You need to hear the words straight from the landlord: “Yes, I’m allowing you to move into my property as a subtenant.” This way you’ll know that you aren’t going to be kicked out after a day of living there because you were never allowed to be there in the first place.

You’re going to be seeing the landlord often, so you’ll need to meet them eventually, anyway. A good first impression will ensure that you and your potential landlord can rely on each other.

Alternative: Ask for the landlord’s contact information and reach out to them via email, phone call, or text.

2. You can make sure the apartment is in good condition

Before agreeing to sublet, you should see what you’re getting into. The sublessee might tell you that the place is in great shape, but you run the risk of living in a dump when you blindly sign a sublease. Believe it’s in great shape when you see it.

Plus, it’s hard to plan ahead on what you need to bring when you don’t have a good idea of what space you have. Is the apartment fully furnished? If not, then you’ll need to see the apartment’s size for yourself so you can note the proper measurements for new furniture. The apartment might also have appliances, but do they work? Don’t take someone else’s word for it — test them out yourself.

It’s also wise to see what spaces you have a right to use. According to The Space Place, “it is not uncommon for the parties to fail to understand fully whether the sublet space includes, or whether the subtenant at least has non-exclusive use rights to, lobbies, common areas, plazas, patios, and lunchrooms.”

This is especially important if there is a roommate already living in the apartment. You should be able to tell which areas you have access to.

Alternative: Set up a Skype tour of the apartment. Ask the current resident to prove that the appliances work and that everything is up-to-date. This way, you can ask any questions in real time and ensure that they show you everything you need.

Image via Pixabay.com

3. You can scope out the neighborhood

If you’re going to be living there for a while, you should be comfortable with your surroundings. First of all, you’ll want to see for yourself that the neighborhood is a safe place. Visiting in person before subletting an apartment will allow you to gauge your comfort zone.

Sometimes when you enter a new town, you just know it’s perfect for you. It’s a sense we all have that’s just unexplainable, but you can tell immediately that you’ll like living there. Other times you might need some convincing. This is why you’ll also want to meet your new neighbors before subletting. You’ll be able to see if you can stand living next to them, and they can tell you from experience what it’s like to live in the neighborhood.

Alternative: Use an online tool to find out neighborhood statistics. AreaVibes is the most common free site to check out crime rates, moving tips, attractions, infographics, and more.

4. You can find the nearest amenities

The apartment’s well-being should be your top priority, but the neighborhood needs some attention, too. Before agreeing to sublet, you should make sure that you have easy access to food — is there a grocery store nearby to the apartment? Some fast food restaurants are good to have around, too, for those times when you just don’t want to cook.

What about transportation? If you don’t have a car, getting around isn’t easy. If that’s the case, you’ll want to see what your options are — busses, trains, an excessive amount of Uber drivers, etc. If you have to walk, then you’ll want to be sure everything is within walking distance.

Of course, you need to keep your interests in mind. When you visit the apartment, take a tour of the town. Make sure there’s coffee shops, a gym, places to shop, or any places to work. Make a list of what you’d like to have around and check them off as you continue on the tour.

Alternative: Use Padmapper and Google Street View to view amenities in your area. The photos might be a little outdated, but you’ll get a good idea of what the town looks like without having to actually see it in person.

Image via Pixabay.com

You should never move into a home that you aren’t happy with, especially when you’re becoming a subtenant. Pictures and descriptions can be deceiving, so visiting the apartment in person is an extra, yet crucial, step to take when you’re thinking of subletting.

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