Inspecting and Choosing a Property

As you inspect and prepare to make a decision on your residence, the following questions may prove useful.

After comparing landlords and setting up an appointment, you will probably be preparing to tour the property. For those that have never rented an apartment or house before, don't be intimidated or get sold by a pitch. The following questions may be helpful in inspecting and deciding on a residence.

What to Consider When Viewing Apartments/Houses

• Ask neighbors and previous renters if they have had any problems with the facility or landlord.
• Is the residence well-maintained and clean?
• Are dumpsters emptied regularly?
• Is there enough parking for each resident?

Living Arrangement Questions for Your Landlord

• Are there rooms in the basement?
• May I have a pet?
• May I put up posters, hang pictures, etc.?
• For which utilities am I responsible? What are the average utility bills?
• What are your rules regarding social gatherings/parties?
• Where may I park my car?
• What is the surrounding neighborhood like? Do other students live in the area?
• What are my responsibilities for mowing grass/shoveling snow/trimming hedges?
• Who do I call if there is a plumbing or electrical issue? At what hours is it acceptable to call?
• What problems have you had with previous tenants?

Final Inspection of the House

Make sure that you take photographs of any damage found in the apartment/house. These photos may be your only evidence if you and the landlord disagree about who is responsible for the damage.

• Outside - Lawn maintenance or snow removal issues? Lighting/Parking?
• Doors - Deadbolts/Door Viewers?
• Windows - the condition of windows? Screens/Locks? Subject to easy entry?
• Kitchen - Stove/Oven/Microwave? Refrigerator? Dishwasher/Garbage Disposal? Turn everything on - do all burners on the stove work? Does the oven work? Does the dishwasher work?
• Laundry - Washer/Dryer? If none, are there hookups? If no laundry on site, how close is the nearest laundromat?
• Bathroom - Sink (water pressure)? Bathtub/Shower (drain/water pressure)? Turn on the faucets and check for yourself.
• Bedrooms - Bed/Mattress? Noisy surroundings?
• Basement - Leaks/Mildew/Mold?
• General Living Areas - Furniture condition (if furnished)? TV (cable, etc.)? Telephone? Condition of walls/ceilings/floors? Issues with pests/termites?
• Heating/Cooling - Type of air conditioner? Age/Condition of the furnace? Who do you call if one of these systems breaks or stops working? How quickly will someone be scheduled to fix the problem?
• Fire Safety - Do the smoke detectors have batteries? Are the fire extinguishers charged? Is the home safety system tied to a local fire department?
• Security System - Stand-alone system or connected to local authorities?

How to Avoid Scams

When you’re sifting through listing after listing months into your apartment search, you may be tempted to go for the post with the most-everything you’ve ever wanted in an apartment (dream location, every amenity imaginable, etc.) for hundreds of dollars under your budget. But unfortunately, when a rental seems too good to be true, it usually is. 

Luckily for renters, scams have plenty of tells. Rental scams are easy to spot once you know what you’re looking for. And once you know what you’re looking for, you can avoid losing a lot of time and money.