An apartment search can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to it. There are several factors to keep in mind, as the overall “feel” of a rental home can also determine your final decision. If someone is move to a new city or country, a simple announcement page is not all they need.

Luckily, we now have several ways to find the perfect apartment, even if you’re a freelancer looking for an apartment to rent. Planning ahead will likely help us save money and better navigate the housing market.

Ways to find apartments for rent

 

You will find various rental advertisements on the sites and in the newspaper, but how do you decide which houses to visit and which to avoid? If you’re still looking for the perfect apartment, check out the following ways now:

1. Search for apartments on rental sites

Wondering where to find apartments for rent online? With the apartment rental sites available today, you can find the best options with a simple keyword search. You can also see what a site offers based on different search criteria. For example, you might want to find apartments with the following characteristics:

Area and floor plan

• In a certain region or postal code
• In a particular public school system
• Some floor plan, like Botsford Place Terrace Apartments refurbished 2 bedroom apartments

Amenities, maintenance and other factors

• Specific amenities, such as a balcony, terrace, on-site laundry, garbage collection, outdoor space, etc.
• Quick response to maintenance request
• Proximity to grocery stores and other shops
• A pet friendly policy in the apartment (or not, if one is allergic to certain animals or just doesn’t like having them around)

Look for other methods

Not all sites will have all of these search options, so check out a few platforms when doing your search. A real estate site can not do much. To obtain information on the smallest details, apartment hunters must also use other methods.

Types of sites

There are different types of sites you can use to view apartment listings. These may be freelance websites where property owners or managers will post job openings in their buildings. There are also all-inclusive websites, with a keyword search showing you all the relevant listings from various sources on the internet.

The best sites to visit

Some of the best sites to view rental listings include:

• Apartments.com
• Jungle Rental
• Hot pads
• For rent.com
• padmapper
• MyNewLocation

If you’re on a budget, there are websites specifically for income-limited/income-based apartments or affordable housing options.

Variation in specific websites

Specific websites may vary depending on your region. A quick search online with the terms “affordable housing”, “affordable rental properties” or “search for limited income apartments” can lead you to the right online resources.

What to do on each website

Remember that you will probably have to pay rent for this new place for at least a year. This is no small commitment, so be sure to read all likely announcements carefully. There should be a decent amount of photographs of each location.

Find details

Most apartment complexes put information on the size of the place and the measurements of each room. Check them all out and estimate what you get for the rent. It will also help you decide what furniture you need for an apartment. Also, check for any confusing (push) or missing features (no deck, no washer/dryer, etc.)

Compare to other sites

Not all sites contain all available listings, details or photos of apartments on the housing market. Plug your search terms and keywords into different platforms. This way, apartment hunters can be sure to access the best and most varied options that always meet their needs.

2. Ask your friends or neighbors

Apartment hunters should not ignore the first-hand information they get from their social circle. After all, we may know someone who has recently gone through the process of finding an apartment or is planning to do so in the near future.

If you’re looking for the best apartments in Farmington Hills, MI, or elsewhere, your social circle might come in handy.

Ask current tenants

Some may already live in a rented apartment and have a direct connection to a rental location. If possible, ask these people if they can find out about a vacancy in their building or resort. Of course, they also need to be happy and satisfied with their lifestyle in their current apartment.

Benefits of contacting current tenants

The advantage of asking current tenants is that you can find out which tenants have already given their two weeks notice. In these scenarios, property managers may not yet advertise the unit as a vacancy, so your first request could get you the apartment before it’s even listed.

Waiting list

If there are no vacant or about to be vacant apartments, the manager may have a waiting list on hand. If your fellow tenants vouch for you, the wait could be shorter.

3. Look for a property manager

Most property managers and landlords would like to fill their apartments as soon as they become vacant so as not to‘don’t lose income. They also prefer secure tenants, so a reference for you will help both parties.

Contact directly

In addition to asking your tenant friends and family to vouch for you, there are other ways to directly contact someone in charge of a rental property. Real estate agents may be able to help you a bit, but you can also find a property manager directly in several ways:

Apply for a rental property

• Walk in the region of your choice: check for vacancy signs in windows or signs that say “for rent”, “for rent”, “for rent”, etc.
• ask around you: if you see a probable place, knock and ask if it is soon available for rent

Look around you

• look for windows: if there are windows above the shops, it is a sign of a living space up there; you can then ask if the unit is available
• Walk through residential neighborhoods: many apartment buildings can advertise their vacant units on the front or top signs

Bulletin boards can help

• Consult the bulletin board: if you are a student looking for local accommodation, contact all reliable property managers who advertise their properties on school and college bulletin boards

Hiring a rental agent

If you are looking for a place in major cities, rental agencies will be quite common. The benefits of having a good letting agent include:

• Facilitate and speed up the search, because they generally know the area
• Help find a place in a certain location, with required amenities and all the other features you want

Some other advantages

• Get an idea of ​​the best and most desirable owners
• Can help get a better rent package with some landlords

A letting agent may charge an annual fee, which is about 15% of the annual rent. However, you shouldn’t have to pay until the lease is signed.

4. Use social media

Social media can be an invaluable tool for completing almost any project or task today. In addition to asking people you know personally, you have access to thousands of reviews, comments, and posts about a certain location. You can ask them things like “how long does it take to view an apartment?” »

Join relevant groups

If you are on Facebook, there are several helpful groups that can help you find vacancies in certain areas. However, not all of them will be active. So, check out their recent activity before signing up.

Post a message

If you feel comfortable doing so, post a message on your various social media profiles. This article would indicate that you are looking to rent an apartment in a certain city. Please note that for privacy and security reasons, you should not reveal too many details.

Discover social media presences

Many apartment complexes are featured on some social media sites. They may not always be active, but some have detailed pages with regular updates and frequent useful links. You can also check these pages for any deleted comments, negative comments, etc.

5. Online Classifieds Sites and Newspaper Ads

If you have a community newspaper, look for sections there that contain advertisements, newsletters, and classifieds. Property managers and landlords typically turn to these mediums whenever they need to rent available suites or units.

You can also check out any nearby libraries to get copies of newspapers in required regions. These may be available in print or electronically.

Online classifieds sites

Also try checking out online classifieds sites. These will give your local community classifieds as well as online classifieds on an international basis. The apartment hunter can then adapt his search to certain cities.

Find out more about the sites

On some sites, you can even use filters to check the rooms, availability and distance involved in each apartment option. Here are some classifieds sites to consult during your search:

• The village
• Hoobly
• Oodlé
• PennySaver
• craigslist
• Offers
• Rebreather
• Gum
• Teens

Takeaway meals

When you are looking for an apartment, the options above can help you find the perfect apartment. A new apartment is your next step towards realizing your dream, advancing your career or starting a new chapter in your life. That’s why you need to be careful when researching and selecting real estate agents to find your next home.

When you’ve found the right apartment, it’s time to get to work! Check out these things to do before moving into an apartment, and good luck to you!