Professional Documents
Culture Documents
14. When driving around, take note of what kinds of cars are parked around, and if
they're substantially different from yours, your potential new neighbors lifestyle may
differ from your own.
15. Call a pizza place and see if they deliver there after dark. If not, the place may have
a history as being unsafe.
16. Make sure there's an Internet provider suitable to your preferences.
17. An experienced landlord is usually better to deal with than an inexperienced one.
18. Get an idea of the general price range of utilities such as heat and AC for the unit.
Ask neighbors in similar units the general price range for heating/cooling.
19. Google your potential new landlord. Look up online property records in the county
you are in. Slumlords will generally have lots of liens against them and/or have
multiple properties in foreclosure.
20. Assure the windows are double-paned/double-glazed and in good repair if the area
is cold to avoid high heating bills. See if the windows open and close easily.
21. Look up crime statistics for the area and ask the police how often they have been
called to the street/complex in the last 6 months.
22. An apartment with laundry facilities will save you money. If they don't have them,
check the prices/quality of the nearest ones.
23. www.apartmentratings.com may be a useful resource.
24. Drive through the area at 10pm one day, 2am the next, and see what kind of activity
is occurring, especially on Fri/Sat nights. Walk through the complex around 8pm.
25. Be wary of any musty smells that could indicate water damage. Too many air
fresheners may be an attempt to hide this.
26. Fill all sinks/tubs. Drain simultaneously and flush each toilet during.
27. Ask if they accept section 8 or convicted felons, if you care about those things.
28. Find out who does the maintenance (some handyman, a legit company, the
landlord?). What are their policies on work orders? Can they be submitted online?
What is their response time guarantee for after hours emergencies? If it's just a
single landlord and not a property management company, do they have someone
you can call when they go on vacation and the hot water heater breaks?