Apartment Hunting in Seattle

I don't have to tell you that moving is stressful. But before you can even begin the moving process, you need to find a new place to live, and apartment hunting can be stressful, too. Apartment hunting in a large city like Seattle can be especially difficult because there are so many options to choose from.

Before you begin apartment hunting in Seattle, you need to decide which areas, or neighborhoods, you are interested in living in. This will narrow down your search considerably. If you are unfamiliar with some of Seattle's neighborhoods, then you should spend some time exploring. Consider whether you want a relaxed yet upscale environment like Madison Park; a relaxed, young environment like the University District; or a funky environment like Capitol Hill.

Now that you know which areas you are interested in, your search can begin in earnest. There are two main apartment hunting strategies that you can use: checking out the apartment ads, and simply looking around. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and they work very well when used together.

There are dozens of apartment ad listings that you can peruse daily. Newspapers, including the Seattle Post Intelligencer, the Seattle Times, the Stranger, and the Seattle Weekly, list apartment ads. There are also a number of online apartment finding services that you can use, some of which are national, and some of which are Seattle specific. An online search for "Seattle apartments" will quickly produce a long list of such services. Apartment listing services are generally free for apartment hunters.

You could also try using Craigslist to find the perfect apartment. Craigslist is a collection of city-specific community websites containing everything from jobs and apartments to rants discussion forums. You can search for apartments by specifying the desired price, number of bedrooms, and whether or not cats and dogs are allowed. You can also add keywords; adding the desired neighborhood as a keyword is very helpful. The Seattle Craigslist is very active, and new apartment listings are added daily. You can also search for available rooms and sublets or even look for someone who is interested in swapping homes.

But no matter what company you use to search for apartments, you will miss some great deals; some apartments simply are not advertised. However, even these apartments will have signs posted outside of the building. Therefore, one of the best ways to find for an apartment is to search the area for signs. Not only will you find apartments that do not advertise, but you will also immediately get an idea of what the apartment is like. You will also become more familiar with the surrounding area, including local shops, restaurants, and parks.

When you are viewing apartments, be sure to ask good questions. Ask whether electricity, water, phone, cable, or Internet are included in rent; sometimes they are, sometimes they are not. Ask about noise levels, laundry services, and pet policies. Also, be sure to ask about flooding, especially if the apartment in on ground or basement level. It rains a lot in Seattle, and flooding problems, as well as resulting mold problems, are not unusual.

You should also try to haggle about the price of rent; most apartment managers are willing to give a better deal than what is advertised. The price may also be dependent on the time of year. For example, if you are trying to move to the University District, you will get a much better price and move-in special if you move during the summer, when many of the college students have moved out and apartments are empty.

Seattle is a great city to live in, and there are always plenty of apartments available. Take your time and make sure you find your dream apartment.