498 words
Planning on living in an apartment this summer? Go, go, go! Look now. Right now. Drop whatever you’re doing and since you’re reading this, that means drop The Clock. Okay, just kidding.Apartments that will be available on June 1 are fast filling up. Craig’s List is an invaluable resource to find apartments, but since it takes time for the site to update, some of the listings are out of date. Other than Craig’s List, finding a realtor that deals with rentals in the specific area where one plans to live is a good idea. One can make an appointment with a realtor and have them do all the legwork of contacting the landlord and setting up an appointment.Another thing to look for is what is actually included in the rent. Hot water and heat are the two most commonly included utilities. Amenities such as electricity, cable, internet and parking (especially parking if you’re living in a city) are the most common things not included.Also, some apartments list “no fee.” They refer to the realtor fee. The landlord must pay a realtor a fee to list their property. Some landlords pay this fee themselves in order to make the rental more appealing. If they don’t, the fee is most commonly half what is paid for one month’s rent. Although that might not sound like a lot, combined with paying for electricity, cable, internet, rent itself, food and other expenses, this fee becomes a hassle.Some other important things to look for are the condition of the apartment, seeing if it is cable and internet-ready and the location of the apartment. If an apartment appears rundown, one needs to find out if the landlord will be responsible for beautifying it, or if it’s the tenant’s responsibility. One should check things such as the windows, especially if he or she is paying for heat. An apartment with a lot of poorly insulated windows will mean a high heating bill. Making sure an apartment is cable and internet ready is important if those services will be needed. If the apartment is not ready, it will cost to have these services installed.Finally, making sure the apartment is in a good location is a priority. First of all, where is the apartment actually located in the building? Higher apartments are a hassle to move into, but might provide a quieter living space.Secondly, look at the location of the apartment in the physical environment. Is it located close to public transportation? Close to a food store? Close to places to work? It might seem trivial, but some apartments are priced higher just because of location.There are many apartments available for summer living, but time is an issue. People are advised to act now if they are serious about moving. There are many resources out there besides Craig’s List, and any Google search is bound to pull up enough links to get people started.