Looking for a place to rent when you’re coming from a different city thousand miles away can be difficult. Moreover, when you are in a global pandemic, finding the best apartment is downright impossible.
Aside from the fact that you cannot check out the properties physically, you’re generally left speculating what neighborhood would be ideal for you and what is the prevailing and reasonable rental rates in the area.
Depending on where you want to start a new life and how much you can afford to shell out for the rent, you can get many options from the internet. All it takes is knowing what to research and how to reach out to. You should have no problem finding that perfect getaway to call home in the new city.
So, how do you decide what the correct choice is?
Figuring out how to rent an apartment begins with some careful planning. You don’t want to be in a neighborhood that doesn’t have what you need, or the new place requires long travel.
Don’t get carried away with your excitement. Take enough time to evaluate your options. You have to do it right the first time to get the compatible home in no time at all.
Check on these practical tips to help you get started.
1. Know your budget.
How much you want to (and can) spend is one of the essential considerations before even thinking of moving out. The general assumption: 30% of your monthly income (before taxes) should be spent on rent.
Once you know how much to allocate for rent, conduct online research to get a feel of the average rental rates in the neighborhood. Apartments with superior accommodations and amenities have higher prices. If you want to go with this lifestyle, you should be willing to pay a higher price. And that means cutting on other expenses.
Moreover, apartments with unusually low rental compared to other flats are usually too good to be true and considered a red flag.
Either way, you should establish a budget that works for you. A budgeting application like Dollarbird or Mint will help you identify unnecessary expenses so that you can fast-tracked your plan of owning a new house.
2. Figure out which location is ideal for you.
If your work matters and you always want to come early, you should choose nearby apartment communities. If a long commute doesn’t bother you, you will find lower rentals in suburban areas with a reasonable commute.
On the other hand, opting for urban living requires you to compare the cost of commuting and owning and maintaining a car. The process will give you the best option that will help you increase your savings.
Choose neighborhoods you know are safe. Ask locals if you are unfamiliar with the area. The Local Police Department may have information about crime rates and security protocols. Their website is just a click away.
Check out Neighborhood Scout for data about crime rates and commute information in a specific area.
3. Use the best apartment hunting website.
Online rental websites are relevant more than ever amid the global pandemic. Zumper is the best place to start your apartment hunting journey. You can find their listings to be comprehensive and are arranged according to location.
Millions of renters use Zumper to find houses, rooms, condos, or apartments for rent. Their inventory is updated in real-time, so you will always see new rentals as soon as they are available.
What is good about Zumper is that rental applications and credit card reports are submitted online. So, less human interaction means less probability of virus infection.
Take note of what you will find online in terms of price, location, amenities, etc. This will make it easier to decide which places you want to consider.
4. Take a virtual tour.
When you already have several choices, schedule a virtual tour. Landlords and rental companies are excited to find renters. You shouldn’t have trouble finding one who will give you a “walk-through” of the unit via video chat.
Let your guide shows the essential parts of the unit – the living room, dining room, bedroom, etc., and the full view of the house from the outside. Ask questions about anything and everything, like where you do your laundry and take out your trash.
5. Make sure you get the best apartment deal.
Your apartment hunting journey is finally over. But, before submitting that rental application and signing the lease contract, evaluate if you are getting your money’s worth from the transaction.
Calculate all your expenses, including the incidental ones such as water, electricity, gas, sewer, garbage, among others. The rental cost should be the average in the area. If your monthly income can sustain all your expenses, follow whatever you decide.
Apartment Hunting in Philly
Are you still unsure which part of the United States you would like to settle? Try apartment hunting in Philadelphia, P.A.
While social distancing restrictions changed the landscape of apartment rental in Philly, just like in many big cities, there are still options for Philly renters.
Millennials as apartment owners are on the rise. With the limited face-to-face interaction, landlords and rental institutions use online means to reach out to probable renters.
In recent months, there has been an increase in demand for apartment rentals due to the influx of people to Philly, who are working remotely, so expect relatively changing rental prices during this period.
Recent data by Zumper shows the average rent for a studio apartment and a 1-bedroom apartment increased by 4% to $1,095 and 4% to $1,350, respectively. The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment remained flat.
The above figures indicate a demand for single occupant-type accommodation which can be attributed to the migration of Americans to Philly, who are not office-based workers.
Now is the best time to take the plunge. Get your dream apartment in Philly now, when rental rates are still affordable.
Looking for an apartment in this time of the pandemic is stressful. Take the time to put in extra effort during the apartment hunting phase to make sure you get the best fit for your budget, needs, and lifestyle.
Thanks to modern technology, the entire rental process can be accomplished in an hour or less. The online transaction is safe and convenient.
Brush up on these five practical tips and get ready to move into your new space and explore the neighborhood once the pandemic is over.
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I have a friend who is currently moving home, or trying to. It's a bit difficult with restrictions and various holidays in the summer season. Definitly passing this on as a bit of motivation for him!
Surely we should first of all stop talking about a pandemic, because despite the media terrorism it is gone. That said, the advice you give is always very useful!
While we aren't searching for an apartment, I think many of these still apply to our search for a home!
These are great tips! Even with the pandemic coming to a close, I love the idea of virtual tours.
Websites really make house and apartment hunting much easier. I have a friend who found her apartment by using an online site.
These are great practical tips for apartment hunting. I especially love the virtual tours, and the importance of keeping it within budget.
My son was looking for an apartment during the pandemic. It was a very hard process. In the end he waited several extra months until it was a somewhat more reasonable process.
Its good tips during these pandemic day to move out and find new apartment place
Best value right now for apartment lookout – I think not only on Philly but everywhere. I live in Dubai, areas that have seen a rise in popularity recently decline it's rental cost. Best time to negotiate as well.
I'll be needing these tips in the coming bar exams. i'll be hunting a place to stay for two months.. hahaha thanks for sharing!
pandemic hit us that hard..
These are great tips! And so needed right now. I know a lot of people are looking for apartments!
Looking for an apartment in a big city is a challenge, anyways, and then with the pandemic, it's a real drag. Hope this mess is over somewhen soon.
It's all about the budget for me. I usually do prior research too before making any major decisions.
Happy to hear about a way to help find an apartment. This would be helpful for one of my grown kids who is ready to make a switch.
These are definitely helpful tips. We're planning to look for a new house soon so these tips will come in handy.
We are not really prepared on this Pandemic. It really hits all of us and you really pointed out all the things to consider. Being prepared and doing out own research is really needed to be able to learn more about this.
Great post! Having read this before, I've passed it on to my sister and another friend of mine who are both house hunting at the moment.
These are some great tips! Thank you for sharing!
apartment hunting is very hard for me, it's never easy and during pandemic times it's even worse.
As with most other things during this pandemic, apartment hunting is best done online. Then the process begins. You have to make sure to thoroughly check everything from paper works to the unit itself. This article makes it a lot easier. Such great tips!
I agree that in this time of the pandemic, we have to be practical. Also, when I look for apartments to rent, these are what I usually look for. Usually, I look for a convenient place and safety for my family and me. It is pandemic, better use and browses online, first.
This is great advice! I'm so glad that virtual tours are an option. That way you can tour an apartment while social distancing.
These are great tips. I think researching the locations is so important. And then of course, the budget.
I'll be house hunting soon and it kind of freaks me out, but it's also kind of exciting.
These are great tips for people to have before they start apartment hunting!
Great tips! I heard the market is changing so much during the pandemic. I was just watching a newsclip today how mucht he market has changed in the States.
Wish I read this before we went apartment hunting last year! So helpful.
I remember these tips for apartment hunting. It has been a while since I needed an apartment but these would have been very helpful.
These are all good points to consider. It is a lot of work to look for an apartment and it is important to be prepared.