Moving in October, November & December? Good luck.

If you are one of the lucky ones that already secured an apartment you really like before the fall season, congratulations!  However, for those looking to get a place around that time, the pickings are slim!  As the weather gets cooler (especially on the east coast,) people do less moving.  Therefore, apartment availability, particularly in ideal locations, is slim.  College students are also settling in apartment communities as well, so it makes it a challenge to find a place.   

Be sure to leave contact information when visiting places you like and if there is a waiting list, be on it.  This way once a resident gives notice to leave, you will be one of the first to know.  Most apartment communities require a security deposit and first month's rent.  However, if your credit is not so good, expect to pay at least twice the security deposit.

Nicholl McGuire

How Important is Public Transportation When You Look for Housing?

Some apartment shoppers don't bother asking about public transportation simply because they know they will be driving their car.  But what happens when the car breaks down and you just can't afford to fix it?  Most will say, "Well, I will just call my mom, my dad or a friend."  As we all know, people are only generous for a limited time only.  When seeking an apartment, do consider one that does have nearby public transportation.  When you do, you will be glad you did especially when you notice how much it may cost you to drive into work each day from your new place.

Most apartment leasing offices do have bus schedules available.  You can also visit local grocery stores and bus depots to pick up a weekly or monthly bus pass.  Take a moment to use the Internet to search for bus stops in the area that you are thinking about moving into.

If you are moving your family and you have teenagers, think about the places they will want to go.  Public transportation will save money and time for a busy parent who isn't always available to transport his or her teen around town.

Nicholl McGuire

What's that Smell?

So you are walking down the hall of your potential new living space and suddenly you notice a strange smell permeating your nostrils.  Smells like a drug of some sort.  What might you say to the leasing consultant who is all too ready to get you into an apartment?  "I noticed a strange odor in the hallway.  I believe that someone might be doing something illegal.  How do you handle issues such as this?"  This is a good way to see what kind of management you may or may not be dealing with in the future.  Is he or she going to address the issue, make excuses or pretend like the smell doesn't exist? 

You never want to consider moving into an apartment building that is so big that if someone is smoking weed in 210 A the smell is going to linger for hours on end and just might spread to your suite.  You also don't want to move in a building where management is not going to do or say anything about the odd smells that might just affect your health one day either.

There are other odors in those hallways of that great looking building that everyone wants to move in and while you may really be excited about it, consider what you are willing to put up with.  Could you handle 310 B cooking greens almost daily and what about 410 C who doesn't believe in bathing her dog or cat?

Take a sniff around the next time you tour a property.

Nicholl McGuire