Finding your first apartment can be exhausting. Click here to learn about the things you need to take care of and how they help with your search.

So, are you ready to get out of your parent’s house? If you are ready, start searching for an apartment! This decision will give you greater flexibility and freedom. However, if you are doing it for the first time, the process can be a bit daunting.

When you sign a lease, you contractually tie yourself to a resident for a set period. If you don’t do your research thoroughly, you might end up being neighbors with someone loud, irritating, or disrespectful. Then there are the unresponsive property managers who take forever to fix maintenance issues.

Here are some tips that will help make your apartment search easier:

Determine Your Budget

Before you start looking at listings online or in the newspaper, determine your budget. Calculate how much you can pay monthly, then look for apartments under your limit. Leave a little room in the budget so that if you come across a place you fall in love with, you don’t battle with yourself to let it go.

Determine What Amenities You Want

The type of amenities you want should match your lifestyle. Remember that the more luxurious the amenities, the harder it will be for you to maintain them. Here are some of the basic amenities you should include in your search:

• Two bedrooms with attached bathroom
• Closer to work
• Nearby parking spot
• Access to public transportation
• A washer and dryer within the apartment
• Community gym
• Average-sized living room and kitchen
• Adequate closet space

Buy Renters Insurance

Protecting your assets is important whether you are buying a home or renting an apartment. Renter’s insurance covers many things, such as certain natural disasters, water backup damage, theft, etc. If a fire breaks out in your apartment, the insurance agency will also pay for rent until your place becomes habitable.

Read the Lease Carefully

Your lease mentions all your responsibilities and those the landlord will not take care of. Hence, you need to read it carefully to ensure you don’t face any problems.

Request a Showing

Never sign on the lease before seeing the location. While the pictures might be lovely, they might not show the real deal. Most lenders stage the apartment and take HD pictures to attract renters. Touring the apartment will allow you to assess it from the inside and the outside, such as how far it is from your workplace, how long it takes to go to a nearby store, etc.

During the tour, inspect the walls and ceilings for leaks. Check the appliances and water heater. If everything checks out perfectly, only then sign on the dotted line.

One thing that most renters fail to do is introduce themselves to their potential neighbors. Not only is this a great way to meet some new people, but also find out about the apartment building. You will get insight into how the landlord is and what the other renters are like. The more responsive the landlord is to your concerns, the more easily you can live in your apartment.