5 Smart Apartment Hunting Strategies

Apartment hunting can be frustrating if you don’t know where to look. There are many ways to look for an apartment, but you could spend time looking at apartment listings that aren’t really what you need. If what you’re doing isn’t turning up anything, or if you don’t know where to begin, then consider these 5 strategies:

1. Announce Your Move

Everyone you know who lives in the apartment location you’re considering, needs to know that you’re apartment hunting. You can pick up the phone and call them, or send emails. They may know something that you don’t know, like a neighbor moving out, or someone at work might have mentioned an opening. This works in locations that are hard to find rentals, such as small towns and rural communities. Treat your apartment search like a word-of-mouth campaign, just like you would in business or while searching for a job.

2. Call Realtors

Realtors are the insiders when it comes to rentals in your town. Give them a call to see what’s available. You can also check their listings online, as most will have a website. One thing to keep in mind is that a realtor has to earn a living. Therefore, you’ll be paying a commission (sometimes hidden in a higher rent) or the landlord will. You can figure this out by asking or comparing the rent to the going rate in the area. If the rent is still a good deal, then a realtor’s commission might be worth it.

3. Drive Around

Set aside at least one day a week to drive around the neighborhood. A landlord may not place an ad in the newspaper or online, but they might put a “For Rent” sign in the window. Sometimes, the tenant who’s moving out will still be there and you can get the scoop on the landlord and the apartment. They might even show you the apartment, but you shouldn’t push it or go into an apartment if you’re not sure about your safety. If you do see a sign, you should return there one evening to get an idea of the noise or any nuisance in the neighborhood.

4. Craigslist

You have to include Craigslist as a part of your apartment hunting strategy because landlords can post ads for free. Many won’t list anywhere else because they don’t want to pay. Therefore, you’ll find exclusive apartment listings on Craigslist. If nothing listed matches your preferences, post a “Wanted Ad”. Don’t list your personal information. Rather, have any interested landlords email you (anonymously) all of the details of the apartment so that you can take a look at your convenience.

5. Offer to Rent

Though the opportunities are far and few in between, there are times when you’ll have the opportunity to offer to rent an apartment. If you notice that a piece of property has not been lived in for a while, approach the owner and find out their plans for it. It could be that they want to sell it but there aren’t any buyers. You renting it will generate income for the owner, and make it more marketable to potential buyers down the road.

Thinking out of the box when it comes to apartment hunting will help you find the rentals that your competitors won’t. Use these strategies to help you find options that are not widely known.