Tips & Tricks for Scoring the Perfect Apartment

It's been 8 months since I wrote my last post and a lot has happened in my life. I moved out of my parents' house which has been a refreshing change to say the least (don't get me wrong, I love my parents, but it was time). I recovered from a bout with Covid-19. I attended a church conference in Dallas only to almost get stranded in a freak snow/ice storm. I got hooked on Wordle for a whopping 2 weeks and realized I had better ways to spend my time. But of all the big changes, the most fulfilling has been ditching my former career as a Public Relations consultant and becoming a Property Manager.

After Shift Communications, the public relations agency I was previously working at decided to let me go because I wasn’t “meeting expectations”, a childhood friend of mine referred me to a position with Prometheus Real Estate Group, where I helped manage a 500-unit residential apartment complex in Mountain View, CA. While initially a drastic and challenging transition from the world of media relations and email pitches that I had grown accustomed to in the world of public relations, I grew to love interacting with residents and gaining an understanding of the housing market and what it takes to not only run a residential property but ultimately, to put it into Prometheus company lingo, help someone find the “perfect place to call home.” Contrary to my company's catch phrase (and the title of this article), I don’t believe that anywhere in this world qualifies as perfect; however, I thought I would share some tips and tricks I’ve learned over the past 11 months for any renters seeking a new abode:

1. Know Your Budget (And Move-in Date)

This may seem like an obvious tip, but you’d be amazed at how many folks stop by my leasing office with a budget well under what our advertised base rent is. Do your research and understand the pricing of an apartment before scheduling a tour. It will save you (and the leasing agent) the hassle & time of driving to and setting up a tour, only to discover the pricing isn’t a good fit.

Along those same lines, it’s important to understand that your move-in time frame can greatly affect the cost of an apartment. As leasing consultants, our job is to keep occupancy high and availability low. This means that when we evaluate pricing for a particular apartment, we incentivize renters to lease earlier versus later by keeping prices lower closer to an apartment’s availability date and higher for a move-in date in the distant future. So while the base price for a 1B apartment might be say $2600/month online, if you’re not moving for another 2 months, that price could easily top $3000.

Also, since laws in most states require anywhere from 20-30 days' notice to vacate for current tenants, evaluating availability more than a month out can be tricky since many of the apartments listed when you start searching will likely be leased by the time you’re actually looking to make a decision.

All this to say, I generally recommend folks start the search about a month before they move in to ensure they can understand what units will be available for their desired move-in date while also getting the most affordable & accurate pricing.

2. Ask About Rent Specials

Many property management companies offer rent specials as a means of quickly filling vacant homes, so it’s critical when searching to ask leasing consultants whether or not they are offering any. Many specials are not advertised online or are frequently updated, so it’s always best to confirm with someone who works on-site. Rent specials could be anything from no security deposit/application fee, several weeks off rent, or even not having to pay for amenities that usually cost extra like storage or a premium parking space.

Moreover, don’t be afraid to share with leasing consultants what competing properties are offering. This is super helpful for us when we make recommendations to our asset management team about what we can offer to potential renters and, in turn, provide better deals for you!

It’s important to note that rent specials often come with caveats. For instance, most only apply to lease terms of 12 months or longer and, if you break your lease, you’re almost always required to pay back a prorated amount of the special you received,so be sure you’re willing to commit to a year-long lease before signing. In addition, many companies offer referral bonuses if you have a friend who lives in a complex managed by the same company or, if a leasing consultant at one property refers you to a sister property under the same company, you may potentially be eligible for a discount as well.

3. Sunshine = South

Many folks prefer an apartment with good natural lighting, so they can consume less electricity and reap the health benefits that come with increased exposure to sunshine. Be sure to confirm with the leasing consultant assisting you which direction a particular unit you are touring faces. South-facing apartments tend to have the best lighting throughout the day. I highly recommend visiting on a clear, sunny day if possible and touring towards the middle of the day so you can see the unit’s lighting in its greatest effect.

4. Hardwood = First Floor

Hardwood flooring is another desired preference amongst renters since it’s typically easier to keep clean compared to carpet. Do keep in mind, however, that many apartments only have hardwood flooring in ground floor units. The reason for this is that upper floor apartments need carpet to help mitigate noise caused by footsteps for the sake of those on the lower floors, so it’s important to understand whether living in a top floor unit or having hardwood is more important, as you often can’t have both.

5. The Perfect Apartment Does Not Exist (No Matter How Hard You Look)

As I mentioned earlier, Prometheus prides itself on helping individuals find the perfect place to call home. But in reality, there is no such thing as the perfect apartment. While a particular residential complex/apartment may check off many of your boxes when it comes to preferences or dealbreakers, there likely will not be one that checks them all. When searching, come in with expectations but acknowledge that, as in many areas of life, you will have to make compromises and there will be workarounds you’ll have to deal with regardless of where you ultimately decide to live.

As a property manager, I fully acknowledge that searching for an apartment can be a big undertaking. And even once you’ve found a great place to rent, apartment living often comes with inevitable challenges such as noise from neighbors, adhering to strict community rules, and managing a tight living space. While I can never guarantee satisfaction for anyone that comes to tour the properties I manage, my hope is that these tips can help you understand how residential communities are managed and what you can do to take advantage of this knowledge to score your next home.