Moving On Up
A few weeks ago, my husband and I were notified that we had been placed in Southern California for his rotations and last two years of medical school! We were very excited as this was our first choice of placement! However, we knew it would be a quick turnaround to get right to work to find a place to live in a very short amount of time. We went to look for our new home- our first time getting to actually pick an apartment since we have been married! We are definitely rookies as we didn’t know ALL the questions to ask and EVERYTHING to look for in each apartment; however, we think we still were able to find what we were looking for! Moving can be stressful, but it really helps to do research before on the area you are moving to! Contact friends or friends of friends who live or have lived in the area, and think about what you are wanting in your new home so that when it comes down to decision time you know what you are willing to potentially sacrifice and what aspects you will not budge on!
Here are some great questions and checklists to consider when renting a new home…
1. This checklist from LifeHacker.com is a great way to remember to ask the important questions and have a clear way to record the answers. The article states…
“The checklist form is in PDF format and you can download it via the link below. Just print it out and take it with you when you’re at an apartment showing, and fill out the two pages with the answers you receive. This will provide a nice refresher when you’re going back and trying to choose the right apartment. You may also want to bring your camera along so you can take a few photos, print them out, and attach them to this checklist form for additional context.” (Click on the link below to download and print the checklist)
2. Here is a list of 100+ questions from Degraeve.com. The creator of this list has moved numerous times in a variety of sizes of homes, areas, and types of homes. Throughout the years, he developed this list to help others know what is important to ask and look for when searching for your new home.
100+ Questions to Ask Before Renting an Apartment
3. Lastly, here is a list of 10 Things to Do Before Signing a Lease from Rent.com. Not only does this list include important questions to ask and what to look for, but also includes why it is important to develop a good relationship with the prospective landlord and the mindset you should have when doing your first look through at each apartment. Check out the lists below…
10 Things You Should Do Before Signing a Lease – Part I
10 Things You Should Do Before Signing a Lease – Part II
Apartment or House Hunting can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! I think these lists can really help in making your search much more enjoyable and allow you to feel very prepared when looking at each new place! You may not be moving right now, but these lists are great to tuck away if that day ever comes to MOVE on up! 🙂
