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Written by: Weida Apartments
When searching for your college apartment, you need to do more than look at pictures and watch the video tour. You should make a physical visit and truly scope the place out.
Why Apartment Tours Matter
Many leases bind you to a commitment for the entire school year. An apartment tour is the best way to ensure you don’t spend that year with a dripping sink, a pest infestation, or faulty appliances. More than that, it gives you an idea of how life in the unit will be and whether you can concentrate on schoolwork without distractions.
Your Apartment Tour Checklist
Just as you require a checklist for furnishing your apartment, you need one to validate that the unit will be adequate once you move in. A checklist will guarantee that you remember everything you should look at or ask about. The following paragraphs tell you what to look for when touring an apartment.
Inspect Every Room
Methodically going room by room breaks the inspection down so that you don't miss anything. Don’t forget that entryways, patios, balconies, and closets are rooms, too.
Furnished or Unfurnished?
If the unit has furniture when you tour, ask whether it is included and will be there when you take occupancy. It costs more to move in when you have to provide the furnishings.
Check Windows, Doors, and Security Features
Open and close all the windows. Make sure they open easily and have screens and that the locks work. See that all doors open and close quietly and securely. If there’s not a deadbolt or chain on the front door, ask whether you may install one. Ensure there’s adequate lighting in the common areas. Ask about security cameras and building alarms. Find out how the main building entrance is secured. If there’s a balcony or patio, make sure its door securely locks.
Are There Smoke Alarms and Sprinklers?
Check the smoke alarm. Ask about the sprinkler system. Locate any fire extinguishers and check their expiration date. Look for working carbon monoxide detectors.
Utilities and Appliances
Use your phone charger to validate that the electrical outlets work. Connect to the wifi. Ask if there’s cable TV and whether it’s provided through the internet carrier. Find out where the circuit breaker box is and whether it’s accessible.
Look inside the refrigerator and freezer. Turn on the stove burners and oven. Switch on the dishwasher and see whether it starts up.
Plumbing
Turn on all the faucets, including the shower, and check for hot water and water pressure. Flush the toilet and see that it drains properly. Look under the toilet, under sinks, and in the shower for signs of leakage. Run the garbage disposal. Check the shower head to see that it’s firmly in place.
As you are turning the plumbing on and off, listen for unusual noises from the pipes.
Look for Signs of Pests or Damage
Inspect the walls, floors, and ceiling for water stains or any discoloration that might indicate mold or mildew. Open the cabinets and look at the closet shelves, not only for standing water but also for droppings and other indications of pests. If there are spilled seeds or rice in cabinets, it may be a sign of mice rather than of messy previous tenants.
Heating, Cooling, and Noise Levels
Make sure the heating and cooling work. If there isn’t AC, ask whether you may install a window unit. If there are ceiling fans, turn them on and see whether all speeds are available.
Ask someone to go into another room and speak at a normal level. If you can hear them, there may be noise issues between roommates. Listen for the noise level as you’re walking through the building’s hallways.
Laundry Options and Parking
Many apartment buildings have an in-house laundry. Take a look to check for the number of washers and dryers, their condition, and whether there are signs of leaks. If there isn’t a laundry room, find out where the nearest public laundry is.
Ask how many parking spaces come with the unit and whether there’s a fee for extras. Find out where guests may park.
Explore the Neighborhood
An apartment is only as nice as its neighborhood. Take a walk around the block. Note the availability of on-street parking for you or your guests. Determine whether this looks like a safe neighborhood. Check for amenities such as parks, cafes, and other conveniences.
After the Tour: Next Steps
If you love the apartment, you might want to snatch it up before someone else gets it. After all, nice student apartments are in high demand. That’s why you should bring everything you need for a rental application – payment method, pay stub from work, photo ID, and recent bank statement. If you need someone’s approval, let them know that you might call.
Document any Damages or Issues
If you like the unit, but there are one or two things wrong, ask to have them fixed. Get the commitment in writing. Take pictures as necessary.
Review Lease, Subleasing, Pet and Utilities Policies
Get answers to all the basic questions:
- How much is the rent and the upfront deposit?
- How long is the lease term?
- Can you sublet?
- What is the damage deposit and refund policy?
- When is the rent due?
- Is there a grace period?
- When can I move in?
- What pets are allowed, and is there a fee or deposit?
- Whom do I call for a maintenance issue?
Ask About Mail, Package Delivery, and Trash Pickup
Learn what you do with trash and recycle and what day it’s picked up. Find out where mail is delivered and what happens with packages.
Schedule a Tour at Any of Our Apartments Today!
If the building owner doesn’t allow a thorough tour, think twice. At Weida Apartments, we’re proud of what we offer in the West Lafayette area, and we look forward to showing it to you. Contact us for your tour.
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