Whether you’re moving for a job, a change of scenery, or to be near family, there are important factors to keep in mind during a move.
Finding an apartment home in the right area (close to work or where the kids go to school, for example) should be top on your list.
And you’d be right, finding a suitable apartment helps make the transition from moving from one place to another go smoothly.
Before you find a place that checks all the boxes, first you need to ask the management team the appropriate questions.
One question might be where you can park your car and if there are carports available. But wait — we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
So let’s fire away and figure out which questions to ask so you can find the perfect apartment community.
1. Which apartments are available?
Not every apartment complex has move-in ready apartments, which makes this a vital question to ask.
If you’re not in a rush to move, then this may not be an issue for you, but it still doesn’t hurt to inquire.
Not only should you ask whether there are apartments available (some complexes fill up fast!), but what type of floor plans are available.
Depending on how much you like the place, you may need to wait until there is availability to sign a lease, move in, and get settled.
2. What are the lease terms?
Perhaps you already researched which lease terms the apartment community offers.
If you don’t know, ask the leasing consultants when you check out the complex.
You should also ask how much rent will be per month as well as what utilities will cost. Also inquire about pet rent, garage fees, and any other add-ons.
Furthermore, find out if there is a grace period or if you’ll be charged a fee (or an eviction notice!) if you don’t pay rent on time.
Finally, another critical question to ask is what would happen if you need to break the lease.
Maybe you’ve decided to move into a home, and if that’s the case, you need to know when you can move out depending on your lease.
3. How does maintenance work?
Asking how maintenance works may not be on top of your list when deciding on where to live.
Why is that?
Well, considering everyone expects their new apartment to be in working condition when they move in, nothing should go wrong.
It should be that simple, but it isn’t.
Your dishwasher could overflow and start flooding your apartment. If that should happen, you need to know who to call to get there ASAP.
All apartment complexes have some type of maintenance staff. Find out who you would call after hours and how soon you can expect them to respond.
4. Do you allow pets?
If you have a pet and refuse to move into a place that doesn’t allow your beloved furry pal, ask the office what their policy is about pets.
Let’s say they do allow pets. Ask about further details such as whether there’s a pet deposit, pet security deposit, or any other expenses.
Some apartments only allow certain breeds. Find out if that’s the case and whether your dog can live at the complex.
Even if you don’t have a pet now, inquiring about any pet regulations will save you a lot of heartache in the future.
5. What can you tell me about the apartment community?
Asking questions about the community is another helpful way to decide whether you’ve found your new home.
For instance:
- What type of security do you offer?
- What are your quiet hours?
- How long can guests stay, and are there any other rules?
- What type of procedures will take place when I move in and out?
- How do I receive my mail?
Don’t forget to inquire about the community outside the complex as well.
For example, you may want the following nearby:
- restaurants
- playgrounds
- coffee shops
- grocery stores
- shopping centers
- movie theaters
Doing your research and asking questions will give you a better idea of whether you will have access to any of these places in a new area.
There are many more questions you can ask, so don’t think you’re limited to only these five. But these questions are an excellent place to start! For instance, a few other things you should ask about is when the office is open, whether a parking fee is required, how to handle noisy neighbors, and many more.
Related: 3 things home buyers don’t ask about
We recommend creating a list of everything you want to ask before deciding whether an apartment home is for you.
No one likes to move into a new apartment only to discover something isn’t as you hoped it would be.
Make no mistake about it, where you decide to live is all up to you. So, ask the right questions about the apartment and choose wisely.
After you find your dream apartment complex, you’ll be glad you took the time to get all of your questions answered.
[Client bio]
Marie Hershberger is the Business Manager at Talaria Burbank. With over 19 years of experience in the industry, she begins and ends each day loving what she does. She finds joy in helping others and makes this property a place everyone loves to call home.