Comments on: Better Apartment Searching: Five “Amenities” That Really Count http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html Renters guide to solving problems, saving money, and living better. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 20:54:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8963 Guest Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:17:35 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8963 Is it acceptable to knock on the doors of neighbors when viewing an apt? I've had problems with noise in the past, and want to ensure my new apt is not a similar situation. Is it acceptable to knock on the doors of neighbors when viewing an apt? I’ve had problems with noise in the past, and want to ensure my new apt is not a similar situation.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8962 Guest Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:59:39 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8962 I am moving out of my parents house next year. I was searching the Internet, and I found an apartment that I really like. Obviously, I'm going to see the place and do some research on it, but I noticed that in the Web listing, the only utility included is trash pick up. Rent is $575 for a one bedroom apartment. Is this a rip-off? Usually, I see that most place will include heat or water in the rent? Should I look for a place that does that? Any other tips for a first-time renter? I'm afraid of unexpected fees and expenses. I am moving out of my parents house next year. I was searching the Internet, and I found an apartment that I really like. Obviously, I’m going to see the place and do some research on it, but I noticed that in the Web listing, the only utility included is trash pick up. Rent is $575 for a one bedroom apartment. Is this a rip-off? Usually, I see that most place will include heat or water in the rent? Should I look for a place that does that? Any other tips for a first-time renter? I’m afraid of unexpected fees and expenses.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8961 Guest Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:30:00 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8961 One additional thing to consider is not what you need now but what you will WANT during the term of your lease. For example, if you are a pet lover but currently don't have one make sure you rent from a pet friendly community otherwise you will be unable to bring fido into your home. Some sites like apartmentfinder.com and apartmenthomeliving.com do a good job of asking you what you really want. One additional thing to consider is not what you need now but what you will WANT during the term of your lease. For example, if you are a pet lover but currently don’t have one make sure you rent from a pet friendly community otherwise you will be unable to bring fido into your home.

Some sites like apartmentfinder.com and apartmenthomeliving.com do a good job of asking you what you really want.

]]> By: Anonymous http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8960 Anonymous Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:01:09 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8960 I noticed one thing while renting and that is make sure your locks work. I have a close friend that was unlucky enough to rent an older apartment which locks would come unlocked if you jiggled the door knob enough. After staying in that Apartment for a few months, his possessions were stolen. Ex-Tenants are suspected but are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, lol. Well just thought I should mention it... Be safe, and Secure. Thanks, JoeJG I noticed one thing while renting and that is make sure your locks work. I have a close friend that was unlucky enough to rent an older apartment which locks would come unlocked if you jiggled the door knob enough. After staying in that Apartment for a few months, his possessions were stolen. Ex-Tenants are suspected but are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, lol. Well just thought I should mention it… Be safe, and Secure.

Thanks,

JoeJG

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8959 Guest Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:45:22 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8959 I lived in an older complex and there were two major problems. The first one was something I noticed when I inspected the apartment prior to moving in. On a wall in the livingroom next to the front door at the baseboard, looked as if it had had previous water damage. Even though this apartment was freshly painted, I could tell by the look of the sheetrock that it had sustained water damage. To make a long story short, there were severe leaks in the livingroom and when a company was hired to replace the sheetrock, it was discovered that there was mold behind it. For the entire 16 months I lived in that complex, I had sinus infections, one right after the other, never more than 2 weeks between them. The second problem was, I guess, the walls. The woman with whom my apartment shared a common wall was a chain smoker, and was home all the time since she did not have a job. When people would enter my apartment, the first question was, "who smokes in here?" My clean towels stunk, the clothes in my closet stunk, and the smell was so strong at night that I would wake up coughing. It had to be because the apartment was older, poor insulation, etc. Anyway, check out your apartment for leaks prior to signing a lease, and check out your neighbors as well. This particular neighbor had moved in after me, so it really didn't make a difference. Just make sure that you check out the apartment you are renting, not one that has the same floor plan. I lived in an older complex and there were two major problems. The first one was something I noticed when I inspected the apartment prior to moving in. On a wall in the livingroom next to the front door at the baseboard, looked as if it had had previous water damage. Even though this apartment was freshly painted, I could tell by the look of the sheetrock that it had sustained water damage. To make a long story short, there were severe leaks in the livingroom and when a company was hired to replace the sheetrock, it was discovered that there was mold behind it. For the entire 16 months I lived in that complex, I had sinus infections, one right after the other, never more than 2 weeks between them.

The second problem was, I guess, the walls. The woman with whom my apartment shared a common wall was a chain smoker, and was home all the time since she did not have a job. When people would enter my apartment, the first question was, “who smokes in here?” My clean towels stunk, the clothes in my closet stunk, and the smell was so strong at night that I would wake up coughing. It had to be because the apartment was older, poor insulation, etc.

Anyway, check out your apartment for leaks prior to signing a lease, and check out your neighbors as well. This particular neighbor had moved in after me, so it really didn’t make a difference. Just make sure that you check out the apartment you are renting, not one that has the same floor plan.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8958 Guest Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:17:35 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8958 I hope it helps in the future to call the cops... We had a downstairs neighbor that was unbearable enough to leave, she fired a gun INSIDE HER APARTMENT and would walk around in her nightshirt within the building. I tried to reason with her, let her know that my husband and I should not have to do laundry with a half dressed stranger, but she ignored me and then just started "being busy" on the phone when she walked around naked. UGH. When she shot the gun I tried to call the police and they didn't even show up. Oh, and by the way, FYI, my husband is from another country, and we are considerate tenents, and neighbors. It isn't always the upstairs neighbors that cause issues. : I hope it helps in the future to call the cops… We had a downstairs neighbor that was unbearable enough to leave, she fired a gun INSIDE HER APARTMENT and would walk around in her nightshirt within the building. I tried to reason with her, let her know that my husband and I should not have to do laundry with a half dressed stranger, but she ignored me and then just started “being busy” on the phone when she walked around naked. UGH. When she shot the gun I tried to call the police and they didn’t even show up. Oh, and by the way, FYI, my husband is from another country, and we are considerate tenents, and neighbors. It isn’t always the upstairs neighbors that cause issues. :

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8957 Guest Tue, 20 May 2008 07:24:50 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8957 I moved into an apartment around oct.-nov. with two other roommates. Both of the roommates bailed on me leaving me alone in a 3 bedroom apartment. My landlord instead of legal actions decided to let the other two get out of their lease for $800. I could not afford to do that simply because I needed to live there in order to get to schoool. About a 2 months later he tells me that he wants to get 2 new tenants to fill the 2 empty rooms. The first tenant to move in seemed like a nice guy. Shortly after a new tenant moved in who also seemed like a nice guy. Tenant number one turned out to be a rager and parties every weekend, leaving the apartment trashed. He did not clean up after parties, most of the time i would leave the trash around for a few days and then when it became unbearable i would clean it up, this would continue after every weekend. The second, roommate is very polite, considerate, except,he does serious drugs and has friends over who also do drugs. Not something I'm too bothered by but just the fact that those drugs are inside me apartment bothered me. Close to the end of the year I became disgusted with cleaning up after people so every weekend I would commute home and sleep at my parents house. Every week I return to my apartment it would look more and more digusting, cleaning looked impossible. Now, its the end of the year and I refuse to pay my last months rent, the land lord has my deposit. I never signed any lease binding me to these two new roommates. So does this mean that i cannot be held accountable for the mess that they have made? Also does this also mean that my previous lease signed with my old roommates is void? What would you guys do? Also, is it a bad idea not to pay my last month's rent because I heard my land lord could take legal actions, and I also heard that they usually win. I wish that I found this site before I rented a apartment....... I moved into an apartment around oct.-nov. with two other roommates. Both of the roommates bailed on me leaving me alone in a 3 bedroom apartment. My landlord instead of legal actions decided to let the other two get out of their lease for $800. I could not afford to do that simply because I needed to live there in order to get to schoool. About a 2 months later he tells me that he wants to get 2 new tenants to fill the 2 empty rooms. The first tenant to move in seemed like a nice guy. Shortly after a new tenant moved in who also seemed like a nice guy. Tenant number one turned out to be a rager and parties every weekend, leaving the apartment trashed. He did not clean up after parties, most of the time i would leave the trash around for a few days and then when it became unbearable i would clean it up, this would continue after every weekend. The second, roommate is very polite, considerate, except,he does serious drugs and has friends over who also do drugs. Not something I’m too bothered by but just the fact that those drugs are inside me apartment bothered me. Close to the end of the year I became disgusted with cleaning up after people so every weekend I would commute home and sleep at my parents house. Every week I return to my apartment it would look more and more digusting, cleaning looked impossible. Now, its the end of the year and I refuse to pay my last months rent, the land lord has my deposit. I never signed any lease binding me to these two new roommates. So does this mean that i cannot be held accountable for the mess that they have made? Also does this also mean that my previous lease signed with my old roommates is void? What would you guys do? Also, is it a bad idea not to pay my last month’s rent because I heard my land lord could take legal actions, and I also heard that they usually win.

I wish that I found this site before I rented a apartment…….

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8956 Guest Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:08:24 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8956 Great advice! Especially the ones about the windows. My current apartment, all my windows face south and I have one facing east. BUT, it doesn't open, it's just a glass pane. Because of that, there is no cross-ventilation and it's nearly impossible to cool the place down in the summer and it's hard to get fresh air so sometimes you walk in to a very stuffy apartment. Great advice! Especially the ones about the windows. My current apartment, all my windows face south and I have one facing east. BUT, it doesn’t open, it’s just a glass pane. Because of that, there is no cross-ventilation and it’s nearly impossible to cool the place down in the summer and it’s hard to get fresh air so sometimes you walk in to a very stuffy apartment.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8955 Guest Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:42:37 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8955 You could've called the POLICE, then! Some people are unreal & inconsiderate.There are basic rules for all tenants,no noise till 8:00 am & cut off time is 10:00PM, here in CALIF. Re: your slum landlord, you shoulda brought suit against him,with your basic right to peace & quiet,& the fact that since he refused to resolve it, you coulda sued him.Small claims court handles up to $5K,000.00 for your deposit,7 lack of refund. You can still do it! They waived the court fees in my case, as I'm low income,but if you have to pay,apx $25.00 the landlord is responsible for paying that fee as well. Go after him, that's the only way,our rights will be protected, in the future. Don't let them get away with it. Make them accountable! You paid on time & left it in good shape, so that matters. You could’ve called the POLICE, then! Some people are unreal & inconsiderate.There are basic rules for all tenants,no noise till 8:00 am & cut off time is 10:00PM, here in CALIF. Re: your slum landlord, you shoulda brought suit against him,with your basic right to peace & quiet,& the fact that since he refused to resolve it, you coulda sued him.Small claims court handles up to $5K,000.00 for your deposit,7 lack of refund. You can still do it! They waived the court fees in my case, as I’m low income,but if you have to pay,apx $25.00 the landlord is responsible for paying that fee as well. Go after him, that’s the only way,our rights will be protected, in the future. Don’t let them get away with it. Make them accountable! You paid on time & left it in good shape, so that matters.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8954 Guest Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:00:30 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8954 My husband and I are having almost the exact same problem as the previous guest - Noisy neighbors. Ours are downstairs from us, and moved in about a year ago ( we had been living here 2 years, by then). They started out playing very loud music all the time, well into the late night. The two times that I went down on my own, and the one time that my husband went down, a child answered the door, and not a single time, any of those three times, did a parent appear at the door, though once I could hear one whispering to the child from behind the door in another language to which the child would turn his head and whisper back, before staring at me blank eyed. We did go to management, and filed a complaint, and the noise went away for about a week, and then started again, with less music and more thumping and stomping of feet. I have also called our over night security once, because at 10:45, it sounded like they were fighting quite loudly, and had been since about 9:30. I hate to move simply because of bad neighbors, but I also don't want to be the one complaining to the management, all the time. Our moral - I'm biting my tongue, and we're looking for a new place/saving for a house. My husband and I are having almost the exact same problem as the previous guest - Noisy neighbors. Ours are downstairs from us, and moved in about a year ago ( we had been living here 2 years, by then). They started out playing very loud music all the time, well into the late night. The two times that I went down on my own, and the one time that my husband went down, a child answered the door, and not a single time, any of those three times, did a parent appear at the door, though once I could hear one whispering to the child from behind the door in another language to which the child would turn his head and whisper back, before staring at me blank eyed.

We did go to management, and filed a complaint, and the noise went away for about a week, and then started again, with less music and more thumping and stomping of feet. I have also called our over night security once, because at 10:45, it sounded like they were fighting quite loudly, and had been since about 9:30.

I hate to move simply because of bad neighbors, but I also don’t want to be the one complaining to the management, all the time.

Our moral - I’m biting my tongue, and we’re looking for a new place/saving for a house.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8953 Guest Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:46:57 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8953 I'm so happy I found this blog. :) yay ~ First-time Renter I’m so happy I found this blog. :) yay
~ First-time Renter

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8952 Guest Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:18:06 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/top_5_apartment_search_tips.html#comment-8952 All that advice is very good, but I'd like to address number five, the issue of loud neighbors. In the last apartment I lived in, the ONLY reason I moved was because of the people above me. I am not exaggerating when tell you it often sounded like they were dropping bowling balls from the ceiling. The noise became so bad it even made vibrations I could feel while sitting on my sofa. I had to watch TV when home and could not read as the noise was infuriating. It gets even worse because the noise was present more than it wasn't, and it sometimes started as early as 6am and occasionally didn't stop until as late as 2am! When I went to speak to the tenants, the toddler (a little girl no older than 4) answered the door. Aside from the 4 year old answering the door for a stranger, the other child of maybe 1-2 years old was crawling on the floor in the background. After literally 5 minutes of trying to convey my desire to speak to a parent, a woman finally emerged from a room. Make sure you've noted that these two very small children were completely unsupervised, and even after the child answered the door no one came out for a full five minutes. When she did she didn't speak English. I notified the apartment community and the property owners in writing with no success. I dealt with the horrendous noise for 6 more months and got out of there. I never heard from them again, including the fact that they never returned my security deposit OR sent a list of "damages" (which there were none). The moral to the story is this: don't sign ANYTHING until you find out who lives above you. All that advice is very good, but I’d like to address number five, the issue of loud neighbors. In the last apartment I lived in, the ONLY reason I moved was because of the people above me. I am not exaggerating when tell you it often sounded like they were dropping bowling balls from the ceiling. The noise became so bad it even made vibrations I could feel while sitting on my sofa. I had to watch TV when home and could not read as the noise was infuriating. It gets even worse because the noise was present more than it wasn’t, and it sometimes started as early as 6am and occasionally didn’t stop until as late as 2am!
When I went to speak to the tenants, the toddler (a little girl no older than 4) answered the door. Aside from the 4 year old answering the door for a stranger, the other child of maybe 1-2 years old was crawling on the floor in the background. After literally 5 minutes of trying to convey my desire to speak to a parent, a woman finally emerged from a room. Make sure you’ve noted that these two very small children were completely unsupervised, and even after the child answered the door no one came out for a full five minutes. When she did she didn’t speak English.
I notified the apartment community and the property owners in writing with no success. I dealt with the horrendous noise for 6 more months and got out of there. I never heard from them again, including the fact that they never returned my security deposit OR sent a list of “damages” (which there were none).

The moral to the story is this: don’t sign ANYTHING until you find out who lives above you.

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