Things to bring with you when looking for the perfect apartment

When you’re trying to find the perfect apartment to move into, here is a list of things you should bring with you to help you find the place just right for you.  When it comes to deciding, it will make the process more organized in making your final decision.

PAPER AND PEN

It’s a good idea to have a pad of paper and pen with you so you can make notes of the places you have visited.  You can make notes of  the # of bedrooms, bathrooms, patios, cleanliness of places, if there are extra amenities (fitness centers, pools, etc).  You can also make note of location and manager/landlords names and phone numbers by property, so if you go to call back, you will have all the information in one place.

CAMERA

It’s a good idea to bring a camera, or a phone with you (camera so you can take pictures of the apartments you have visited).  This will help you in your decision, and help if you have a roommate that is not able to be present.  It gives that person a visual to help you both make a final decision.

TAPE MEASURE

Bring a tape measure so you can measure out dimensions of rooms.  This will help make sure your furniture will fit.  It is also a good idea if you have overstuffed furniture (being able to measure doorways, stairs, etc) to make sure you will not need special moves (like a hoist over a balcony, etc).

LIST OF MUST HAVES

It’s a good idea to have a list of what you would like to have in a place (and/or must have in a new apartment).  As you go through your search, you can check off which place has what, which will also help you in the end in your decision-making.

REFERENCES

Bring a list of references.  This is definitely a great thing to have, especially if you are in love with a place, it gives you a step ahead of other potential residents.