Finding Your First Apartment

The prospect of finding your first apartment can be scary, full of unknowns, and maybe a little bit overwhelming. Most likely, you have either just left your mom and dad's home, or left your college dormitory looking for that first apartment. Here are some tips for the new apartment dweller to consider as they begin their search for their new home.

Apartment Renting and Your Credentials
Your credentials are your proof to a potential landlord that you are a qualified apartment renter. Many landlords will want to check your qualifications by asking for photo identification as well as recent pay stubs to verify your income. Often they will ask for your Social Security number so that they can run a credit check on your personal finance history.

If your a first time apartment renter or a recent graduate who lacks any credit or rental history, having referrals from reliable people can help. Ask a counselor or a dorm adviser for a referral as well as a copy of a "good" college transcript to show that your a good apartment renter risk. Some landlords will allow you to us a guarantor to help get into that first apartment. A guarantor is someone such as a parent or guardian who will make sure that your apartment financial obligations are covered in case you fail to do so.

Apartment Renting and Your First Lease
An apartment rental lease is just like any contract, and as with any contract be sure to read it fully before signing it. You need to understand that apartment rental agreement thoroughly. Most standard apartment rental leases should include the rent amount, the length of the apartment lease, what utilities are paid for or not, how much notice you must give before moving out of the apartment, any security deposit information, and what damages you maybe responsible for paying. Check the apartment rental lease for specific rules such as pets, long-term guests and subletting.

Apartment Renting and Your Roommates
Many who are apartment renting will do so with roommates. Remember that the one who signs the apartment rental lease ultimately is the one responsible for what is on it. That includes the timely payment of the rent, and any damages incurred in the apartment. Choosing your roommate is very important just for those reasons alone. However, the best protection for a first time apartment renter is to draw up a roommate agreement. This apartment roommate agreement should include how the rent is split, how the bills are paid, and how much notice is given before moving out. You may even want to put in the roommate agreement some basic house rules, like shared cleaning of the common areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms. Make sure that all the roommates sign and date the agreement to make it legally enforceable.