rent an apartment Archives - GET TO KNOW PMI

rent an apartment Archives - GET TO KNOW PMI https://www.rentpmi.com/blog/tag/rent-an-apartment/ Just another Rent Cafe Blogs Sites site Wed, 25 May 2022 20:25:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 227033262 Questions to Ask Before Renting An Apartment https://www.rentpmi.com/blog/2019/08/07/questions-to-ask-before-renting-an-apartment/ Wed, 07 Aug 2019 21:01:00 +0000 http://www.rentpmi.com/blog/?p=778 One of the most important decisions you'll make in life is where to live. Whether you're moving into your first apartment or relocating to be nearer to family, a job, or school, it's a good idea to get the full story on an apartment before you decide to rent it. Asking lots of questions…

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One of the most important decisions you'll make in life is where to live. Whether you're moving into your first apartment or relocating to be nearer to family, a job, or school, it's a good idea to get the full story on an apartment before you decide to rent it. Asking lots of questions during your search and before you sign a lease may help you avoid any surprises and can ensure that you rent the apartment that is perfect for you. Here's our checklist of the most important questions to ask when renting an apartment.

1. What Is the Lease Term?

When you begin your search for an apartment, one of the first and most important questions to ask a landlord is how long the lease is. A one-year or 12-month lease might be standard, but some apartment communities offer shorter or longer options.

One thing to consider when it comes to the length of the lease is whether or not the apartment community changes the amount of rent it charges based on the lease term. Some communities charge a higher monthly rent for leases that are for less than 12 months.

Along with finding out how long the term of the lease is, it's also a good idea to find out what will happen if you have to break the lease or leave the apartment early. In many cases, moving out before the end of the lease doesn't mean you no longer have to pay rent. Usually, you'll be responsible for the rent on the apartment until the end of the lease term.

2. What Is the Application Process Like?

Although some landlords are more lenient than others when it comes to the process of applying for an apartment, you can usually expect to fill out an application and provide the landlord or property management company with your personal information. If you have found a place you're interested in renting, you want to find out what sort of process the company uses to screen applicants and what information it will be reviewing.

application process

Generally speaking, the property management company will want information about your employer and a list of references, such as past landlords. A credit check and a background check are often part of the application process, too. The property management company will also want to verify your income or that you have the funds to pay for your apartment. If your income isn't high enough, you might need to find a co-signer to apply for the apartment with you.

Another thing to find out when asking about the application process is whether or not you'll have to pay for it. Fees vary based on the company you're considering renting from.

3. How Much Is the Deposit?

When you rent an apartment, you typically need to put down a security deposit. Your security deposit isn't the same thing as your rent, although it's often the same amount as a month's rent. The deposit is meant to give the landlord some protection in case you damage the apartment or fall behind on paying rent.

Since you need to pay the security deposit up front, before you move into the apartment, it's a good idea to ask how much it will be before you get to the point where you're seriously considering signing a lease. You don't want to move through the application process and get accepted only to find out that you don't have enough money to move into the apartment.

4. How Much of the Deposit Is Refundable?

Since your security deposit isn't rent, it remains yours. That means that the landlord should return your deposit to you when the lease is up, and you've decided to move.

How much of the deposit is refundable

There are some reasons why your landlord might not return the full amount of your security deposit to you, though. Before you sign the lease, it's a good idea to ask what factors can affect your security deposit. Landlords can't charge you for things like normal wear and tear on the apartment, but if you caused damage to a fixture or appliance in the rental, they are likely to charge you for it and to take the money out of your deposit.

5. How Do You Pay?

The process of paying rent varies from property management company to property management company and from landlord to landlord. Some companies expect a check mailed to them by the first of the month. Others, such as Property Management, Inc., accept online payments. Paying your rent online can be much more convenient than sending in a physical check. You don't need to make sure you have stamps, and you don't need to worry about having your payment get lost in the mail or stolen. Plus, the process is quick and easy.

Along with finding out what payment methods the company or landlord accepts, it's also a good idea to ask about due dates. The first of the month is an expected due date, but your rent date might be different if you move in in the middle of the month.

While you want to get in the habit of paying on time or before the due date, you might also want to ask if a grace period is available. Your landlord might give you a few days to pay after the due date each month before tacking on a late fee.

what appliances are included

6. What Appliances Are Included?

You probably can't imagine living in an apartment that doesn't have an oven, a dishwasher, or a refrigerator. If you've ever lived through a Pennsylvania summer, then you know that air conditioning is a must in some parts of the state.

Just because appliances like a refrigerator, oven, or air conditioner make your life more comfortable doesn't mean your apartment has to come with them. It's common for rental apartments to include those things, as doing so makes for a more attractive rental. But you don't want to assume that your new apartment is going to come with every single appliance you found in your previous location.

When touring an apartment and before you decide to apply, it's a good idea to ask the property manager what appliances come with the rental. If it turns out that you need to provide or purchase items you consider must-haves, you might decide to continue your search or rent somewhere else.

7. What Amenities Are On-Site?

In some cases, amenities available on the property or in the apartment building can make a ho-hum apartment much more attractive. When you're touring a rental, it's worth asking the property manager what amenities come with the rental. Some properties offer a gym or fitness center, a lounge or rec room, and a pool. Other common amenities may include a walking trail, laundry facilities, community room, or clubhouse.

If you're renting an apartment in a building or at a property that is adjacent to another rental property, you might be able to take advantage of the amenities available at the nearby rental property, too.

Another thing to find out when asking about available amenities is if there is an additional fee to use them. Some rental communities offer a pool or a gym, but charge residents an extra fee on top of their rent to get access to certain features.

what utilities are included

8. What Utilities Are Included?

When you're trying to decide between two different apartment units, which one sounds like the better deal? An apartment that rents for $800 per month and doesn't include heat, or an apartment that costs $900 per month and does include heat? Depending on the size of the apartment and how toasty warm you like to keep your home, the $900 per month apartment might be the better bargain.

As you tour apartments and speak to property managers, it's a good idea to ask what utilities, if any, are included in the monthly rent. Some places may include water, sewer and trash pickup in the rent, and some may even offer heat or air conditioning.

If a rental doesn't include certain utilities, such as heat or electricity, you can ask the property manager what the average or typical monthly cost of those utilities is. The exact cost will vary based on usage and apartment size, but having a ballpark figure to work with will help you determine if an apartment's overall price fits with your budget.

9. How Long Does It Take Maintenance Issues to Be Resolved?

When something goes wrong at your apartment, you don't want to have to wait days for the issue to be fixed. Before you sign a lease and move in, you want to ask the property manager how long it takes to resolve maintenance issues or to make repairs.

Some of the things you want to find out include whether the maintenance team responds to issues right away, whether someone is available on weekends, and whether someone is available at all hours of the day.

Along with finding out how long you can expect to wait if your heater breaks or if there's a leaky pipe in your bathroom, it's a good idea to find out what the process is for putting in a maintenance request. Is there a number to call or can you submit a request online? PMI offers tenants the option of putting in maintenance requests online. When you move into the property, you'll also be given a 24/7 phone number to call in an emergency.

10. What Is Your Parking Policy?

If you have a car, where will you put it when you're at your apartment? Some apartment communities offer off-street parking, which takes the hassle out of finding a spot to park every day and also eliminates the worry that you'll get a parking ticket if you don't move your vehicle in time.

Along with finding out if a parking lot or garage is available, it's also worthwhile to learn if parking is included in your rent or if you need to purchase a separate parking pass for your vehicle. If you are going to have visitors over, where will they be allowed to park their cars and will you need a separate visitor's pass for them? Is there a parking lot specifically for visitors?

12. Am I Allowed to Hang Items on The Wall?

Once you move into an apartment, you might be interested in hanging up photos of your loved ones or prints and posters. You might also be interested in hanging up shelving to give yourself a bit more storage space or in painting the walls to put your stamp on things.

Before you make any changes to the apartment, no matter how small, check in with the landlord or property manager and ask about the rules. In some cases, your lease might clearly state what you can and can't do to the walls and fixtures in the apartment. Some buildings are more lenient than others and will let you paint or put in holes in the walls to hang pictures, provided you restore everything in the apartment to its original condition before you leave.

Other apartment communities are stricter and don't allow any holes in the wall or new paint colors. You might be allowed to hang items using removable adhesive, though.

13. Do You Allow Pets?

You may not be looking for a home only for yourself. If you have a furry, four-legged companion or two, it's vital that you confirm that the rental allows pets before you sign the lease.

Confirm that the rental allows pets

Asking about pets before you move in also ensures that you and the landlord are on the same page. If you don't mention your dog or cat, and the lease doesn't specifically say anything about pets, there's the risk of some confusion come move-in day or if the landlord happens to drop by and finds evidence of a pet when no pet was ever mentioned.

Another reason why it's worthwhile to ask about pets is that some apartments have pet restrictions. A quiet, fuss-free cat might be allowed, but a loud dog who barks a lot might not be welcome. Some places allow certain types of dogs, but not others. Other places are fine with dogs but don't allow cats. Whatever you do, if you have a pet, you want to make sure that your specific animal companion is allowed to live in the apartment.

Is There Per Rent

14. Is There Pet Rent, a Pet Security Deposit, or Both?

You may need to pay extra to have your pet share your apartment. Ask the landlord if you need to put down a pet security deposit or pay another type of fee to bring your animal into the apartment. It's also a good idea to find out if you'll need to pay extra pet rent each month. Some management companies or landlords charge a one-time, non-refundable pet fee, others charge a monthly rent for pets, and others ask for an additional deposit, which you may get back when you move out, provided your pet doesn't cause too much damage.

Looking for an Apartment in Pennsylvania? Check out PMI's Rental Offerings

Whether you're on the market for a one or two-bedroom apartment, looking for student housing, want to live in luxury, or are searching for a budget-friendly place, PMI has the home that's right for you. We have apartments available throughout Pennsylvania, in Shippensburg, Camp Hill, Williamsport, Mechanicsburg, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, State College, Lancaster, and more. Check out our current listings and get in touch with us today to learn more about what life is like in our apartment communities.

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A Guide To Renting Your First Apartment https://www.rentpmi.com/blog/2017/11/16/a-guide-to-renting-your-first-apartment/ Thu, 16 Nov 2017 19:34:00 +0000 http://www.rentpmi.com/blog/?p=187 Signing a lease as a first-time renter is an exciting moment. It may be moving out on your own for the first time, renting an apartment with a significant other or even moving to a new and exciting city. If you're a first-time renter, it's important to understand the apartment rental process before…

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Renting your first apartment in Harrisburg, PA | Property Management, Inc.

Signing a lease as a first-time renter is an exciting moment. It may be moving out on your own for the first time, renting an apartment with a significant other or even moving to a new and exciting city. If you're a first-time renter, it's important to understand the apartment rental process before jumping in.

There are no two ways about it: Renting an apartment for the first time can be a daunting prospect. It seems like there’s so much to know, so many boxes to check, and so much to keep track of. It doesn’t help that it can feel like everyone on the planet knows more about it than you. It’s easy to feel like you’re behind and you need to play catch up to figure out what’s going on.

While you can be any age when you rent your first apartment, you're most likely a recent high school or college graduate. With everything else you have to learn at this time such as paying taxes, building credit, and job hunting — learning how the apartment rental process works can feel like just one more item on a long list of confusing things you’re required to learn.

However, there’s no need to worry about this one. Property Management, Inc. has you covered with this quick and informative guide to renting your first apartment. We’re collecting all the essential information so you can be armed with information as you begin this process informed and confident.

Apartment hunting tips in Harrisburg, PA | Property Management, Inc.

Finding Apartments

No matter how intimidating the apartment search can appear, there’s no other way to begin than just to dive in. The first step in renting an apartment is to simply begin finding rental listings. Make lists, spreadsheets, or whatever works for you as you record apartments that look good to you or that you’ve contacted the owner of.

Browse the Internet for Apartments

When it comes to finding rental listings near you, the internet is your friend. There are several ways to utilize it. You can directly look up property management companies. These companies will usually have all their current available listings shown on their website with floor plans and amenity information.

Ask Friends and Family

Let your friends and family know that you're searching for an apartment. Ask them if they know of any properties with available units. They may have seen signs around town for available apartments or know people looking for roommates.

What to Consider When Renting an Apartment

Of course, no matter how many helpful websites you have access to, it’s impossible to begin your apartment hunt until you consider a few important factors, such as location, budget, and roommates.

Narrow Down a Location

Of course, no matter how many helpful websites you have access to, it’s impossible to begin your apartment hunt without first knowing where you want to look. Most likely, you’ll want to live relatively close to your job, school, internship, or other meaningful location. However, this can mean something entirely different to everyone. Some people aren’t interested in commuting more than ten minutes to work. Others don’t mind a commute of nearly an hour. It all depends on what works for your lifestyle, your car’s gas tank, and what the neighborhoods near you look like.

It’s also good to think about proximity to locations other than your job. For example, consider how close the nearest grocery store or shopping mall is. If you have young children, think about what good schools are nearby, and think about what school district would make the best fit for your family.

It may be helpful to think of having three choices of apartment settings. You can live in the city, the suburbs, or the rural country. It doesn’t matter if your job is in the city or the country. As long as you’re willing to commute, all three living options are available.

The urban lifestyle tends to be more fast-paced, crowded and expensive, but it also allows you access to the very best in culture and entertainment. The suburban lifestyle is great for raising a family, and still allows you access to the sights of the city and the space to pull back as well. Finally, the rural lifestyle allows a more relaxed pace of living and plenty of space, although you may find yourself missing the constant activity and stimulation of the city. Decide which lifestyle appeals most to you, and begin looking there.

Work out a Budget for your Apartment

Along with a location, a budget is hands-down the most important factor in deciding what apartment you’ll eventually end up renting.

Whether it’s big or small, all of us live on a budget of some sort. Some of us can afford enormous mansions, while others struggle to rent one-bedroom apartments. Whichever camp you fall into, one thing remains the same: You have a limited amount of resources to spend on housing.

Creating a budget isn’t difficult at all, even if you’ve never done it before. First, you start with your monthly income. From this number, you subtract how much you spend on things like groceries, gas, insurance, shopping, entertainment, your Netflix subscription and anything else you can think of. Don’t forget to account for things like any loan payments you may be making any month, as well as savings. The amount you have left is the amount you can afford to spend on housing every month.

You can also create your budget by beginning with your rent first. Do a bit of research to learn what a typical monthly rental rate is for properties of the size you’re looking for in the area you want to live. Subtract this from your monthly income, and see if there’s enough left over to cover the rest of your monthly expenses.

One of the most important things to remember when you create this budget is this: Do not forget to include utilities. Utilities are water, gas, electric, and other amenities. If you’ve never rented before, you might assume these are included in the price of rent. Sometimes they are, but unfortunately, they usually aren’t. In many cases, you’ll find apartments that include a few utilities in the prices of rent, but the others are the renter’s responsibility. Either way, include an extra chunk of money in your budget for utilities just in case.

Don’t Forget About Roommates

You might be thinking roommates were something you left behind in college, along with ramen noodles and showering in flip-flops. But don’t be so quick to count this out as a very feasible possibility.

Firstly, realize that living with a roommate in a post-college apartment setting is vastly different than living with a roommate in a tiny dorm room or even a college apartment. One reason for this is that you aren’t randomly assigned roommates in the real world. You get to pick who you want to live with, meaning it can be a friend, a sibling, a cousin, or even a casual acquaintance whose lifestyle is compatible with yours.

Another reason roommates are so different after college is that there is far more space. You’ll each have separate bedrooms, a full-sized kitchen, and a separate living area. You will not be tripping over each other’s belongings and will have far more elbow room. In addition to this, you’ll both almost certainly have full-time jobs, meaning you’ll simply see less of each other than you would in a college setting.

The benefits of living with a roommate are almost endless. Rent, utilities, and Wi-Fi all become much cheaper when you’re splitting them two or three ways. Groceries are another thing you can share with roommates. Or, if you’re not comfortable with that, you might consider just sharing a few essentials, like spices, baking goods, or dairy products. These things will go a long way towards saving you money.

If the idea of saving money isn’t enough to convince you to try out a post-college roommate, consider the fact that it’s useful to have someone other than you around the house. Maybe they’re handy with tools and you’re not, maybe they’re good at baking delicious treats, or maybe they’re just tall and can reach the top shelf of the pantry. Think of all the ways you could trade-off skills with people. Maybe they might cook you a meal in exchange for you changing their tire, or something similar.

When you consider someone as a potential roommate, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:

Do they have either a reliable job that will enable them to pay their bills?
Are they responsible enough to pay their fair share of rent every month?
Do you agree on pets?
Do you share mutual ideas of cleanliness?
Do they have any lifestyle choices you could not stand to live around?
Do you trust them around your personal belongings?

Make a List of Needs and Wants

Before you begin visiting apartments, make a list for yourself of desirable qualities you hope to find in your future apartment. Then, divide this list into “needs” and “wants.” Your needs list should include things that you absolutely can’t compromise on, like the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, or on-site laundry. Your wants list, on the other hand, could include things like the size of closets or the availability of off-street parking.

Since only you know what’s important to you, it’s important for you to make this list yourself and customize it according to your needs and lifestyle. Having this list readily at hand will help you when you’re searching out apartments. It will help you rule out some options immediately and will help you decide one choice is ultimately better than another. It might even save you from wasting your time on an apartment that will ultimately never suit your needs.

Visiting Apartments

Now that you have a list of apartments picked out, it’s time to start scheduling tours and visits. It’s easy to get overwhelmed during this process, so take some time before each visit to plan out the things you want to look for and the questions you want to ask.

Here are a few steps to guide you through this process.

Visit Multiple Apartments

No matter how much you may think you love the first apartment you visit, you owe it to yourself to play the field a little bit. Visit multiple apartments. Get a sense of what options are available to you. The more apartments you visit, the more you’ll be able to compare them to one another and decide which one is truly the best option for you.

Be an Active Visitor

Apartment visits and tours are important. Not only are they great for looking at the apartment itself, but they’re also a chance for you to see the apartment and visualize the space needed for your belongings.

Ask Questions

This ties neatly into the idea of paying attention to the apartment itself. When you tour an apartment, this is the perfect chance to talk with the landlord or realtor and ask them some important questions.

Here’s a quick look at some of the most important questions to ask your potential landlord:

Are utilities included in the rent? If not, ask about the process of setting these services up.
Are pets allowed?
What are the move out policies?
What is the school district?
When is rent due and what forms of payment are accepted?

Leasing Apartments

So you’ve found the perfect place. You’ve visited it, asked plenty of questions, and determined this is a place you could be happy in. The next step is to sign the lease and make it official.

You might think since this is the last step in the process, this is a time to relax and stop paying attention. But the opposite is actually true. This is the time to pay extra close attention so as not to miss any of the finer, last-minute details that will try to slip by.

Don’t Wait to Apply for an Apartment

Once you’ve found that perfect dream apartment, it can be tempting to go home, take a day, and think about it. After all, you want to be sure you’re making the right decision, right?

Resist the temptation. Don’t wait. If you like the apartment, ask to fill out an application on the spot. The time between filling out the application and hearing back from the landlord will give you plenty of time to think about it and make a decision.

In the time you take to think about it, the apartment will almost always be snatched out from under you by someone else.

Provide Your Information

When you fill out an application, you’ll need access to certain documents and certain pieces of information. Since you might find yourself filling out applications right on the spot of an apartment visit, it’s a good idea to carry these documents with you. If they’re sensitive documents that you’re afraid of losing, write the information down, take a picture of it with your phone, or commit it to memory.

Some examples of documents and information you’ll need to provide include:

Social security number
Any previous rental history
Pay stub or bank records that demonstrate proof of income
Credit score — if you don’t have a credit score yet, you may need a cosigner, in which case you’ll need to bring their information as well.
Personal references

Read the Lease

We understand, no one reads the terms and conditions. Every one of us is guilty of blindly clicking the “I Agree” box without even reading a single word of the thousands we’re agreeing to. We do this every day, and no one bats an eye.

Your lease is not like this. Your lease is important. It’s a legally binding contract you are obligated to obey. You need to know what it is you’re agreeing to. Make sure the things you and your landlord talked about are reflected accurately and that strange is in slipped into the lease.

Here are a few important things to look for in the lease. These are all things you should’ve talked about with your landlord, but it’s a good idea to double-check the lease document to make sure it accurately reflects your conversations:

Term of the lease
Price of rent
Responsibility for maintenance
Responsibility for utilities
Rules about pets
Ruled about extended guests

Once you’ve read it, take a deep breath and sign it. Congratulations — you’re now a leaseholder!

Check out PMI’s Rental Properties

If you’re looking for your first apartment anywhere in the Central Pennsylvania area, we hope you’ll check out the many comfortable apartments available to rent from Property Management, Inc. We have apartments in Harrisburg and the surrounding area, including Lancaster, Williamsport, Gettysburg, State College, and more. We would love to answer any of your questions at 717-730-4141.

Sources:

https://www.rocketlawyer.com/article/apartment-renting-101.rl
http://blog.rent.com/renting-first-apartment-guide-checklist/
https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/your-first-apartment-four-things-you-need-to-know/
https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2014/05/14/a-guide-for-renting-your-first-apartment
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/guide-to-renting-your-first-grown-up-apartment/

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