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Category: Home and Apartments : Apartment Hunting
Having to find inexpensive places to stay during the time I put myself through college (and afterward during those first lean years), I came up with some methods that seem to work well for me. They should be good guidelines for many people.
1) It is better to get a cheap apartment in a good neighborhood than to get a "nice" apartment in a less desireable neighborhood.
Having a lot of space is nice, but if your neighbors are from the lower end of the evolution spectrum, and/or you fear walking to your car at night, you won't be as happy where you live.
2) If you want to get below-market prices, find an apartment building owned by a recently-retired senior citizen. Ideally, a married couple that does this work together.
Commercially-owned apartment companies make a point to charge the most rent they can get, are very regular with the rent raises, and do the bare minimum to get by on maintenance. My first solo apartment had a rent of $415.00 a month. The maintenance was scrupulous. After six years, they finally raised my rent - to $425.00.
3) In most areas, there is a cheap local paper. Look in papers where the classified ads cost the least for the people who are as frugal as you want them to be.
In Detroit, as an example, I looked for the local suburban paper (The Daily Tribune) instead of looking in the Detroit News when I sought out an apartment.
4) If you can, talk to a tenant and see what they think.
5) Ask how long the average tenant has stayed in the building. The longer period, the better off you will be.
6) Ask how long they have owned the building. The longer they have owned it (if they are older), the more likely they are to sell it due to ill health coming down the line.
7) Ask why they got rid of the last tenant.
8) If you get a bad sense about the deal, walk. There is almost always a better deal someplace else.
9) If you are in a bind and you need a place NOW, even if this isn't the best place, negotiate for a month-by-month lease. If they say they don't write leases like that, offer to pay an exit fee if you leave before a set period of time. If they tell you that this is their policy and they stick by it, walk. If they aren't that flexible, you aren't going to get the best pricing.
10) If you're in the place and you break something through negligence, fix it yourself or offer to pay for it. That will go a LONG way toward avoiding rent increases. I once had to break into my apartment because I locked my keys in my car (while it was running in the winter). I did $38.00 worth of damage to the screen. I asked the landlord how much damage I did. He told me, and asked me to not do that again (call us, we'll come let you in). Without being asked, I paid the extra in the rent check. I was a valued tenant.
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Submitted By
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Gary Rimar |
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Description
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A college graduate who paid his own way |
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Web Page
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