by Jim Parsons
So you're ready to graduate. You've ordered the invitations. You've arranged to have the family attend commencement. You're working on final exams.
And you're equally prepared for life after the big day. You've lined up some job interviews, or maybe you've already got a job. The next step, then, is to find an apartment.
Sure, living at home is fine, but you're nearly out of school and you're working on a job. Chances are it's time to get your own pad.
The problem is, you've doubtless heard lots of horror stories: evil landlords, equally evil neighbors, ruthless realtors, domestic hell ("Hey! Was that a roach, or did you drop a malted milk ball? Wait, don't answer...").
But fear not. Finding an apartment can be an enjoyable task if you're careful and put a little work into the process. It's one of those things that gives back what you put into it, so read on and pick up a few tips on The Great Apartment Hunt.
Check your local listings
The first thing to do when searching for a rental property, of course, is to look at the local rental listings. And it so happens that the most comprehensive lists of available rentals are in the local newspaper.
In Houston, the Chronicle has extensive real-estate listings in its classified section, both in the print edition and on the Internet (www.chron.com).
Other publications, like the Houston Press, the Greensheet, smaller community papers and even The Daily Cougar, also list rentals, usually arranged by geographic area (for example, downtown, Galleria area, Museum District).
"The local paper is always the best place to start looking," said Gerald Dean of Universal Rental Locators. "I hate to say it's better than using an apartment locator, because I am one, but the newspaper has listings we don't."
Dean added that newspapers will list apartment-locator services in addition to individual rentals. "It's not just listings of properties in the paper," he said. "It's also listings of people who will help you find other listings."
No matter whether you're staying in the Bayou City or planning to live in another location, the local papers are your best bet.
Remember, many larger cities have free weekly papers like the Press: the City Paper in Washington, D.C., Atlanta's Creative Loafing and the Seattle Stranger are all free publications that might list rentals the larger commercial newspapers don't.
To find the local papers in your city of choice, hop on the Internet. Many search engines, particularly Yahoo! (www.yahoo.com), maintain lists of newspapers searchable by city.
Speaking of the Net, it can be a helpful resource as well. Linking to sites like www.rent.net and www.allapartments.com will turn up searchable listings of apartments nationwide, often complete with photographs and floor plans.
A convenient way to supplement your findings is by employing an apartment locator like Dean. The newspaper and yellow pages list dozens of such services, which take your preferences and match them with available rentals in town.
Bear in mind, however, that these services are not always free. Ask about fees before you engage their assistance.
Another potential source for apartment hunters is the free apartment guide, usually found in convenience stores or the lobby of your local supermarket. These carry listings of area properties with maps and pictures.
However, these booklets are really nothing more than books of advertisements. Many times, only larger complexes are listed in them. They are the complexes that can afford to advertise - which may mean they may also charge higher rent.
Hit the streets
Even after you've let your fingers do the walking, it's still a good idea to take a leisurely drive or stroll around your target neighborhood.
Some properties, especially smaller ones, choose to announce availabilities with signs in the yard or on the building rather than by advertising in the newspaper. In Houston, this is particularly true in inner-Loop neighborhoods like Montrose and the Heights.
University of Houston graduate Ariana Lee found her Montrose duplex by driving up and down area streets.
"I looked in the Chronicle and didn't find much I was interested in, so a girlfriend and I decided to go look for ourselves," she said. "One Saturday, we went out and just drove around the area, and that's how we found our apartment."
Even if you don't find anything on such a trip, taking a Saturday drive around town with a friend is always better than sitting at home in front of the tube.
Kick the tires, ask questions and take no prisoners
Well, you've narrowed the list down to a few potential properties. Now what?
Needless to say, make sure you visit the places enough times that you know exactly what you're getting. Investigate every room thoroughly. Look into closets, into cabinets, behind doors - anywhere a cursory examination wouldn't take you. An apartment that seems well-kept at first glance may not be so great when you actually poke around a little.
And don't be afraid to ask the landlord or realtor questions. In fact, ask as many questions as you can.
"I always tell people to ask about anything that's on their mind," Dean said. "Otherwise, they'll never know."
Don't be put off by grumpy agents. If they cannot offer, or refuse to offer, straightforward answers to your questions, take your business elsewhere.
"You've got to be sure to ask anything you're curious about, and some things you're not," said Julia Behr, an agent with San Francisco's Union Rental Services, an apartment-hunter assistance agency.
"Here in San Francisco, there's no problem finding people to fill apartments. Realtors and landlords may seem gruff, and that's because they may not think they care if you rent or not. There will be someone else who will take the place if you don't," she said.
"Don't let them fool you. They're there to rent the apartment, and you're there for the same reason. When push comes to shove, they will address your concerns."
So ask about the carpet. Ask about maintenance. Ask about security, reliability and satisfaction. It's your money, and you deserve to know.
"Keep in mind that the place of your dreams may not really be," Dean said. "My experience is that it's far better to know what's wrong before you move in than to keep quiet and have your apartment fall to pieces in a few weeks."
Be realistic
Most important, when you're searching for a place to live, assess your actual needs and meet them. Don't exceed them or underestimate them.
Sure, renting a $650-per-month efficiency in The Rice may be cool for a while, but you might eventually find yourself wanting more than one room and wishing you weren't paying most of your salary to stay in it.
Behr suggested making an "All About Me" sheet on which you list your needs, your priorities and your expectations. Will you have a roommate? You might think about closet space and bathrooms. How much closet space do you need, anyway? Do you plan to cook? Think about the size of the kitchen. Will you have any furniture that requires special spaces?
She said having such a list prepared and mentally ready can help when you're scouting potential rentals. "Sometimes, you might even give a copy of that sheet to the landlord," she said.
"I've seen people get apartments the same day they look at them if they do that, because the landlord is going to be impressed and, more importantly, you can look at the sheet and say, 'You know, I don't think this place is for me.'"
Behr also suggested you check your credit record before going out to rent. "Many landlords will want to know what your credit is like, so you'd better know before they do if you think it might not be good," she advised.
It's easy to obtain a credit report from a reputable service for a nominal fee. Do so, and carry the report with you. Make copies and give them to the landlord or rental agent.
That may not only get you on his or her good side (because you've already run the check, he/she won't have to), but it could save you the cost of a credit-check fee, if there is one.
Some more hints
It's true: There is a lot to consider when you're searching for a place to live. The tips listed above are all very basic. You'll need to make notes on your apartment-hunting experience, because chances are you will be referring to them again fairly soon.
In addition to the above suggestions, also consider the following, culled from various renters' resources.
Most places ask for a lease, which is fine. It means more stability for landlords and your neighbors. Landlords often want 12-month leases, but there are many six-month leases available.
Try to negotiate that you'll sign a lease after a 30-day trial period. Leases usually include a credit check and a fee for it, which is also good: It means that your neighbors will be as reliable as you.
Think carefully about your new neighborhood. Before moving, call the police department and ask about the area or check crime statistics on the Internet. If you know other people who live in the area, ask them their concerns about living there.
Also be sure to note security in your potential apartment. While many newer complexes have keypad entry systems and sophisticated gates and cameras, older and smaller buildings may have little more than a locking gate - if that.
Pets are a whole other ball game. Got a cat? Most places will take cats. Got a dog? Some won't take dogs. Look at it from the owner's point of view. They may not have to take pets and can still get a great response from an ad, so why bother potentially messing up their rental?
But persevere, pet owners. Chances are you'll find a place for yourself and your furry friend. And be firm and quick: Landlords may renege on giving pets the green light when they see that other non-pet owners want the place, so take their OK while you can get it.
Consider convenience. Living in a hip inner-Loop neighborhood might be really great for shopping and nightlife, but when there's a five-hour commute out to the Woodlands every day for your job, you might kick yourself.
No matter where you live, unless you are very familiar with the area, make trial runs to see how long it takes you to get to and from work. Rush hours and street congestion vary from area to area, and what used to be a 15-minute drive when you lived right on the freeway may now take twice that long.
Also think of your proximity to other things. How far is the hospital? The grocery store? Laundromat? Are there parks nearby? Do you care? And in other cities, check out subway and bus routes in relation to your new place.
If you keep a car, look into the parking situation. Ideally, you'll have an assigned, covered parking space, but you may not have a covered parking space - in fact, you may not have a space at all. Consider it before you move in.
Deposits vary widely. Complexes are apt to ask for less of a security and more of a first and last deposit, while owners are more apt to ask for a larger deposit and no first and last. Also, the deposit can depend on the type of rental. Houses usually have larger securities, for example, because there is more that can be damaged.
Get a second opinion. Bring someone with you to look at apartments you are thinking of renting. Sometimes a second party can point out things you may not have noticed.
Allow yourself enough time to be prepared. It is recommended that you look for your next apartment at least six to eight weeks before your scheduled moving date.