First Apartment? No Problem!

Let’s be honest here. It’s never easy trying to rent your first apartment, especially if you’re a college student on a set budget.

Housing isn’t cheap when it comes to living near campus, but taking that leap to move away from the dorms can be beneficial for you in the future. Getting your first lease and truly living as a growing adult will not only increase your independence, teach you how to live on a budget and make you become responsible about paying your monthly debts, but it will also build your rental history. Having rental history will in turn make it easier to rent other apartments or buy your own home.

Selecting your first apartment is sure to be a nerve-wracking and time-consuming process, but having the right information can get you on the right track to your new, off-campus home.

Step-by-step instructions for first-time renters from ArtofManliness.com will help guide college students on their search.

“Figure out how much you can afford.” Before even starting your search for available apartments, know your budget and what your monthly expenses will be. Besides re

nt, you’re paying for utilities, food, furniture and other expenses that must be met to uphold an apartment.

“Create criteria for your ideal apartment.” What do you want out of your first apartment? Do you want to live by yourself or with others? Should you rent an apartment or house? Will your apartment come with appliances, or will you have to furnish it yourself? Do you want to live in an urban or suburban community? How far are you away from retail stores? What’s the crime level of the community that you chose?

All of these questions and many more have to be examined and evaluated. This will help narrow down the apartments you start to check out.

“Identify potential apartments.” The fastest and easiest way to search for apartments is on the internet. Thousands of apartment listings are online and can be narrowed down based on your preferences. Craigslist.com, apartmentguide.com and rent.com are all great websites to visit. Ohio State even has its own website, offcampus.osu.edu, for all of the realty properties surrounding campus.

“Make a good first impression when visiting prospective rentals.” Just as you are inspecting the landlord and the apartment, the landlord is checking you out as well. “They want to make sure the people they rent to are reliable, courteous and easy to get along with,” according to ArtofManliness.com.

“Check for problems.” While touring the rental, be on the lookout for any and all things that may require fixing or replacing. If you’re not careful, you may end up paying for them in the future.

“Ask questions.” This is very important. Don’t shy away from asking about the property. Firmly, but politely, ask any and all questions that you have before, during and after the tour. Red flags should fly if the landlord can’t give you a straight answer on most of the questions.

“Ask current tenants about their experience.” If you run into current residents of the rental you’re viewing, don’t be afraid to stop them and ask them questions about the property, the landlord, the neighbors, and the community. They will be able to give you a more in-depth analysis of the area than the landlord.

“Check your credit history before submitting a rental application.” ArtOfManliness.com recommends that you get a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com because landlords will check your credit history. Correcting any mistakes on your credit report will enhance your chances of getting the apartment.

“Be ready to pay a rental application fee.” According to ArtofManliness.com, most application fees are $20-$30 to cover the cost of the credit check.

“Have a list of references ready.” Most landlords will want references to validate your information, so have a list prepared.

“Have enough money in your checking account to cover the security deposit and first month’s rent.” Both payments are normally required at the signing of the lease, so be sure to have the amount ready to go at signing.

“Read the lease or rental agreement before signing.” Never sign a contract before reading it. Understand the terms and conditions and ask questions about anything you don’t see or don’t understand.

The difference between a lease and a rental agreement is time. Understand which document you are signing because it will determine if you’re renting month-to-month or leasing for a year.

ArtofManliness.com also recommends that you inspect the apartment before leasing (remember that tip from earlier?) and to get renter’s insurance. “Renter’s insurance covers any loss to your personal property due to robbery or accidents.”

Finally, know your rights and responsibilities as a renter. You have a right to privacy and a right to live in a safe and habitable place. You are also responsible for keeping the apartment clean, safe and in good repair. If you don’t honor those responsibilities, be ready to reimburse the landlord for any damages you cause.

If you’re responsible and decide to move out at the end of your lease, you will be able to get back the security deposit you had to pay at the signing of your lease.