 |
| Make sure to view a few apartments before renting! |
| There are many things to consider when looking for that perfect rental apartment: Date Availability. Does the apartment's availability coincide with your moving schedule? Pet and guest rules. If the landlord does not allow a pet or a roommate who is not on the lease, an additional charge may be levied. The Apartment: Once you've narrowed your search, carefully look at the actual space you'll be occupying and ask questions: Condition: What's the general physical condition of the apartment? If it needs to be repaired, find out what work will be done by the landlord before you move in. Generally, most landlords will have a vacant apartment cleaned and repainted. You may be able to negotiate a smaller security deposit if you have the time and skill to undertake those improvements. But be sure to know your limitations: if you have to repair crumbling plaster, you may end up spending more money than you anticipated. Look at the walls and floors. Noise: How soundproof are the walls? Will you hear your roommate? How about the neighbor's baby? Or outdoor noise? Is the apartment next to the elevator or incinerator? Water Damage: Pay special attention to any signs of water damage from upstairs or neighboring apartments. Electric outlet coverage. Make a note of the ceiling lighting fixtures in the apartment. Is each room amply lit or are you going to need table lamps? How old is the apartment building wiring? Few outlets and/or two-pronged outlets often indicate older wiring, which can be a safety concern because they encourage the use of electrical extension cords. Are there an adequate number of electrical outlets? Ideally, there should be a few three-prong outlets in each room, and one in the bathroom with a GFI (the special outlet with two buttons). Are the outlets located in convenient places? Telephone, Cable & Internet. Are the telephone, Internet, and/or cable jacks installed in easily accessible and convenient locations? Installing additional jacks in a rental apartment is costly. Natural Light. Visit the apartment at different times of the day to view the amount natural light that streams into the space. Darker apartments usually command less rent. Smoke & CO Detectors. Make certain that there are smoke and carbon monoxide detectors paced correctly throughout the apartment. Are they battery-operated or hard-wired? Insects & Rodents. Check for signs of insects and rodents. Ask other tenants of the apartment building about the presence of these pests - they may be more forthcoming a landlord. Fitting your furniture in the apartment. Remember that the advertised square footage of an apartment generally includes wall-thickness and your share of a fire escape. The actual interior useable apartment space is almost always less than advertised. .Bring a tape measure. If a bedroom is 10' x 10' and your bed frame is 7' x 7', it's going to be a very tight squeeze. Keep the size and placement of your furniture in mind when looking at each room. Will your furniture fit in the elevator. Although your couch may fit in the living room, make certain that it can also fit through the doorway of the apartment, down the hall and in the elevator. Storage Space: No one ever has enough storage space. Pay special attention to the size and number of closets. Older rental buildings usually suffer from a lack of closet space. Does the landlord offer a storage locker? If so, are there vacant ones available and is there a rental charge? Appliances: What appliances come with the apartment? How old are the appliances? Are they gas or electric? This may be a consideration when estimating future utility bills Who pays for repair and maintenance of these appliances? Bathroom: Do a quick check of the water pressure in the bathroom. Flush the toilet and turn on the shower for a few seconds. If the pressure is weak, find out if the landlord is willing to check into the matter. Balcony Safety: Is the balcony or fire escape properly gated to protect children and pets? Are the apartments' windows gated for child safety? Security: What level of security does the apartment building provide. Are there security cameras, gated entrances, or a doorman? Are the front door and window locks sturdy and intact? Does the apartment door have a peep hole? Is there adequate outdoor lighting? Laundry: Is there a laundry room available in the apartment building? If there is, is it on your floor or in the basement? If the building does not have a laundry, how close is the nearest laundromat? Elevator: Is there an elevator, or will you have to use the stairs? Decide if you can move all your stuff up several flights of stairs in a walk-up apartment building. In an older elevatored building, we recommend that you ask the superintendent or apartment building manager about its reliability. The Neighborhood: The neighborhood must meet your life style and budget. Be in right neighborhood: It's absolutely necessary that you visit the neighborhood in the day and at night to really get a feel for the ambience. Neighborhood Amenities: Focus on those amenities that are important to your lifestyle. The distance to and availability of public transportation, shopping, post office, banks, parks schools and churches from your new rental. Neighborhood safety: Walk the streets at night and make certain that you feel comfortable. This is especially important if you use public transportation at night. Neighborhood Noise: Try to gauge the noise level that will filter into the apartment from the surrounding neighborhood. if there's a fire station or hospital nearby, sirens will blare at all hours of the day and night. If a bedroom is located above a main thoroughfare, ambient street noise will filter in. The closer your apartment rental is to street level, the more neighborhood noise will become a consideration. Neighborhood residents: Focus on the make-up of the neighborhood population. Is it a heterogeneous or homogeneous neighborhood? Are there college students, singles, young marrieds or seniors that populate the neighborhood? Final Recommendation. When touring rental apartments, take our checklist with you. Take extensive notes and record your general impression because once you go home, you’ll never remember those details. Trust your intuition: If you don't have a good feeling about the rental apartment, chances are you won't be happy living there. While no apartment rental will be perfect, it should strike a balance between your budget, spacial needs and life style. With this information at hand, you'll be better equipped to make an informed decision before signing a lease. NoFeeRentalByOwner.com Site Map No Fee Rental By Owner Home Page About NoFeeRentalByOwner.com Tour No Fee Rentals No Fee Rental Apartments Landlords - List Your Rental Apartment Questions about Renting? - Contact Us New York City Apartments - Village, New York City Rentals - East Village, New York City Rentals - Chelsea, New York City Rentals - Murray Hill, New York City Apartments - Upper East Side, New York City Apartments - Upper West Side, New York City Apartments - Soho, New York City Apartments - Clinton, New York City Apartments - Upper Manhattan, Manhattan Apartments - West Village, Manhattan Apartments - Lower East Side, Manhattan Apartments - Midtown East, Manhattan Apartments - Tribeca, Manhattan Apartments - Financial District, Manhattan Apartments - Midtown West, Manhattan Apartments New York No Fee Apartments: Bay Ridge, New York No Fee Apartments: Bensonhurst,New York No Fee Apartments: BedStuy, New York No Fee Apartments: East NY, New York No Fee Apartments: Crown Heights, New York No Fee Apartments: Flatbush, New York No Fee Apartments: Flatbush, New York No Fee Apartments: Bushwick, New York No Fee Apartments: Clinton Hill, No Fee Rentals: Prospect Heights, No Fee Rentals: Ft Greene, No Fee Rentals: Greenpoint, No Fee Rentals: Park Slope, No Fee Rentals: Windsor Terrace, No Fee Rentals: Brooklyn Heights, No Fee Rentals: Kensington, No Fee Rentals: Midwood |
Welcome to NoFeeRentalByOwner.com. Your #1 Source For No Fee Rental Apartments!