Important Questions for Renters to Ask when Apartment Hunting

If you are thinking of getting an apartment or renting a house, there are no doubt some questions that you will want to have answered before you make your decision. Deciding on a place to rent takes a lot of consideration. You must be able to pinpoint what you need from a rental agreement, and you must be able to prioritize your needs. For example, if you have kids, you might be more interested in whether or not there is a good school in the area than if there is a close public bus line if you already have a vehicle. Here are twenty questions you might want to ask to get you started on choosing a new home to rent.

01. How much is the rent?

02. How much is the deposit?

03. Is the apartment furnished?

04. How many bedrooms are there?

05. How many bathrooms are there?

06. How much do the utilities generally run?

07. Are any of the utilities included in the rent, and if so, which ones?

08. Is the apartment gas or electric (or both)?

09. Can I have a pet?

10. Is there a deposit for having a pet, and if so, how much is that deposit?

11. How long is the lease?

12. Is the apartment available now, or after a certain date?

13. Is the apartment near a good school?

14. Is the apartment close to a public bus line?

15. Are there washer/dryer hookups? If not, is are there washer/dryer amenities on site?

16. Is there a pool? Are there any other recreational areas (weight room, volleyball court, etc)?

17. What is the neighborhood like? Is there a high crime rate?

18. How far from campus are the apartments?

19. Are there 24 hour maintenance services?

20. Is there anything else that I should know about the apartment itself, or the complex?

Some of these questions you may be able to find on your own. For example, you can probably research the neighborhood to see if it is a good one or not, and you can see how close the nearest bus stop is if you're concerned about the bus line. Close schools can be researched as well. It is important to make sure you have done all of your research before settling with a new home. You are going to be tied to that decision until your lease is up, so make sure that you have done your renter's research.