Apartment Blog

During the housing boom, buyers were borrowing thousands of dollars to pay for homes on the market. However, in today’s economy, many of the buyers aren’t able to repay those loans due to rising interest rates, resulting in mass foreclosures. With foreclosures, many residents are forced to find alternative living arrangements, most often apartments to rent. Due to pet restrictions in apartment communities, pet shelters are seeing an increase in the number of animals being given up. Or worse, left on the streets.

ForRent.com doesn’t want to see anymore pets separated from their family. Pet owners needing to relocate can use our site to find pet-friendly apartments. With our easy search criteria, you’re sure to find an apartment in your area that accommodates you and your animal. Please visit ForRent.com today! Your pet is a part of your family and we want all of you to stay together.

In a previous blog, Seal the Deal with the Landlord, I made a few suggestions about how to impress the landlord so that you can ‘seal the deal’ to get the apartment. I’ve since found tips on MSN Real Estate which echo my advice while giving a little more in-depth instruction on how to be the best applicant for the apartment of your choosing.

Number 1: Make A Good Impression

This applies to many instances of your life. In the words of Stacey London on ‘What Not to Wear’ “Dress for the job you want not the job you have!” If you want to get a better apartment, you need to dress appropriately for it. Give the potential leasing consultants a reason to want you there. Show up on time and have questions for the leasing consultant. Act like you want to live there!

Number 2: Bring Copies

Letters of recommendation and references from previous rental companies, neighbors or roommates will go a long way to impressing the leasing consultant. I would also recommend bringing copies of your recent pay-stubs, should you need to finalize paperwork to get approved. Being prepared gives them confidence in you as a tenant, so they’ll want you in their apartment.

Number 3: Pet Resume

Another tip mentioned on MSN Real Estate is bringing a pet resume. While I have suggested having a copy of the health/shot records for the leasing consultants so they know your animal is in good care, having a resume is an excellent idea. On this resume could be referrals from former landlords or roommates who can vouch for your pet’s good behavior. You could also put in there a copy of your animal’s obedience training certificate. All are good steps.

I would also recommend reading my previous blog, Seal the Deal with the Landlord, for additional tips, such as finances. But these are great quick tips for making you the best applicant for the apartment! I hope you’ve found this useful!

Source: Realestate.msn.com

So you’ve gone to ForRent.com and searched hundreds of apartments for rent in your area. You’ve narrowed your search based off your criteria and set up appointments at the apartment communities to view their available apartments. Please DON’T GO UNPREPARED!!

These appointments that you set up are important. Each time you visit an apartment community you are in essence visiting a potential landlord. So make sure you have all your ducks in a row.

Be sure to make a good impression. You need to show up on time, if not a little bit early, for your appointment. If you are late, it could indicate to the Landlord that you are late on other things in your life (i.e. bills). It is also wise for you to look the part. You are trying to convince this person that they should trust you in their apartment community and want to have you as a resident. Try to present yourself in a good and clean manner!

Part of making a good impression is showing interest in the apartment community. So ask questions. You can get the information that you need as well as show the landlord that you are truly interested in living in the community. Be prepared with a list of questions that range from apartment availability, deposit(s), lease terms, etc.

The above mentioned steps that are all controllable by you. The following things you may not be able to change before you meet with them: your finances and your pets. If you have financial problems or even an eviction history on your record, it’s important to re-establish your credibility. You need to come prepared with proof that you can pay for rent, such as pay stubs and bank statements or even your history of paying bills on time for other services. While having a blemish on your credit history may deter the landlord, being upfront and honest will show them you take accountability.

If you already have a pet, chances are you have experienced the difficulty of locating a good pet-friendly apartment. For more help, visit ForRent.com to search for pet-friendly apartments in your area. After you found a few that qualify with your criteria, it’s vital to show the landlord that your pet will be well-behaved in the apartment community. I’ve heard of potential residents offering the landlord a chance to meet with his/her dog to observe their behavior. It’s also good to be prepared for any additional questions that may arise, so bring a copy of the animal’s records, showing their shots, health history, etc. This may seem like a lot to do, but you want to assure the landlord that you will be a good resident, that includes your animal.

The selection process for your perfect apartment can be intense. There are many factors that come into play such as: location, amenities & price. Similar to how critical you can be, the landlord will be as critical to make sure they are placing a good resident into their apartment community. So make sure you’re that apartment resident!

No matter where you are, you have neighbors. At work, it’s the person in the next office, at school it’s the student sitting near you and at home it’s the person renting the apartment next to yours. The awkward first encounters between you and your neighbors are always hard to get over, but eventually will help you in the future. Who else will check your mail when you’re on vacation or jot notes down when you skip class?

Everyone has heard the horror stories about neighbors. So to avoid any of those potential problems, here are a few tips for getting to know your neighbors:

Tip 1: Introduce yourself
The first day you move in will obviously be a busy one, but maybe the second or third day you should go an introduce yourself. Nothing elaborate is needed, just a simple ‘Hello, how are you? I just moved in next door’ type thing will work. Breaking the initial barrier will help prevent any awkwardness in the future when you see him/her.

Tip 2: Wave
Doing such a simple gesture will go a long way in maintaining a relationship with your neighbor. Think about it, wouldn’t a nice wave in the morning to say ‘how are you?’ be a pleasant way for you to start your day?

Tip 3: Pick up your pet’s messes
If you happen to live in a pet friendly apartment, please pick up their messes. This not only will help your neighbors out-so they don’t have to watch exactly where they are stepping-but will also improve the look of your apartment community!

Tip 4: Set up play dates
During the initial introduction, you made one of the first few days you moved in, you should have been able to find out if your neighbor has any children. If they are roughly the same age as your children, make a play date for the kids to get together. Or if they don’t have any children, maybe you both could visit a local dog park with your animals? Doing this will help you get to know your neighbor better as well as allow your children (or pets) interact with others.

Tip 5: Visit the area and all its amenities
You didn’t search for an apartment that has access to a tennis court, pool or fitness center not to use it, did you? Utilize the amenities your apartment neighborhood offers. If you go to the fitness center often, you’re bound to run into some regulars or visit the pool during the summer and chit chat with other sun bathers. You will start to create relationships with others and this will give you an overall comfortable feel in your new apartment home!