Apartments for Rent: 5 Signs to Stay Away

On the market at any given time, there are plentiful apartments for rent. Finding the right apartment for you, however, is a much larger task than merely pointing your finger. While seemingly a great residence, there are X signs that you should stay far away from an apartment.

1. An Irritating Landlord

The single, most important factor of any apartment is the landlord. A landlord’s personality, adherence to laws and willingness to respond to maintenance requests positively interact with you and can make or break your quality of life. When investigating the apartment also investigate the landlord, taking specific note of his behavior, what he offers and commits to as well as what he does not say or questions he refuses to answer.

Beware a landlord that seems exceptionally hurried or disinterested in showing the apartment, or uninterested in the tenants and property. If the landlord seems trying to push you into signing a contract, refuses to show you all the property, or to offer you a written lease, walk away from the apartment. Most importantly, listen to your instinct; if you get a bad feeling, remove the apartment from your consideration.

2. Poor Maintenance

Do not overlook poorly maintained grounds, parking or apartments. A failure to preserve the area indicates apathy towards landlord duties, meaning that you and your apartment will not receive requested or necessary attention.

3. Dissatisfied Tenants

During your apartment search, try to ask questions to the other tenants about their satisfaction with their apartment. In a large complex remaining in the parking lot after your tour may provide you with the opportunity to approach other tenants. If the feedback you receive is overly negative or there seems to be a general feeling of dissatisfaction, you might want to seriously reconsider the apartment. Keep in mind that there will always be at least on unhappy individual, so if possible try to obtain as many opinions as possible.

4. Deals too Good to Be True

If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is. An apartment that is cheaper than average rents for the size and location of similar apartments might have something wrong with it that you are overlooking. Should you encounter such a situation, inquire extensively into whatever seems unusual. However, do not immediately eliminate any good deal; you might be the lucky individual who truly finds an honest deal.

Additionally, do not overlook an overly friendly landlord. A landlord is not offering the apartment for rent but to make a profit. Any landlord willing to agree to anything you request no matter how much the request impacts their own rights might be covering something unsightly about the apartment.

5. A Dangerous Neighborhood

The neighborhood surrounding the apartment is very important to your enjoyment and safety. If the area nearby is known to be dangerous, seriously reconsider whether it should remain in contention. Check the apartment itself for iron bars or multiple door locks, as these would indicate that the area is unsafe.

While you undoubtedly are excited about finding a new apartment, do not let that excitement override signs that the apartment is poorly managed, dangerous or has hidden dangers. As any and all questions you have prior to signing a lease. While no decision is foolproof, the more you research the less possible problems will arise.