I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

AdriandSteve Posted: Apr 27, 2010 11:57 AM

I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

How many apts did you look at before you found the one you wanted?

Neither FH nor I have rented before and are going in this blindsided in a way. On sat we went to see our 1st two places. One was 1500 w/utilities (not electric or cable) for a 2 bedroom. This one was really very nice but at the top of what we want to spend. The second was eh. lol

We just made an apt to see another place this weekend which also at the top of our price range at 1450 w/no utilities (she said they'd be about 150 depending on how much we use).

They both have the same move in date so that's fine. (June 1st)

If we like this place though are we rushing into it since we haven't looked at many places? Neither of the 2 places we liked are through a realtor so we get to skip on the fees which is nice.

Thoughts?

Jtruran Posted: Apr 27, 2010 11:59 AM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Those prices aren't bad but where are you looking....Just so you know our utilities are about $200 a month

halfbaked Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:00 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

If you can afford it, and you think it's right, I'd go for it. I've seen too many of my friends wait on apartments and they get snatched up before they can go back to say they wanted it!

AdriandSteve Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:01 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Posted by Jtruran

Those prices aren't bad but where are you looking....Just so you know our utilities are about $200 a month

The first place we liked was in Elmont but in Franklin Square/Elmont. The one we're going to see this week is in RVC.

cateydee Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:01 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

i bet ur utilities are higher. ive moved about 15 times and the last time i looked for an apt, i saw about 10 apartments or more.

MR1223 Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:01 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

we only looked at one apt when we decided to move in together but we both loved it. my FH thought we might be rushing into, but we didn't have any other appts to see apts lined up cause we didnt like anything else. so i was afraid we might lose the one we both liked a lot - so we ended up renting it.

i had looked for apts by myself before i met FH so i knew what i liked and didnt like and FH had lived on his own for years.

DWKSwed Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:08 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

IMO, if you see an apt and you like it a lot and you're comfortable, just go for it ASAP. If you wait and look around there is a very good chance that you could lose it. It has happened to me before. It's okay if you spend a day looking at a couple of apartments but you have to move quickly if it's in demand.

Lucky2010 Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:09 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

We saw our apartment in an advertisement. The realtor showed us a few apartments before taking us to 'the one' which we ended up taking! $1400 including heat/water but not electric. We had to pay a broker fee, but the place came furnished so it was totally worth it.

ETA: Electric runs us on average $100 - $150 per month.

Lsorrent Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:09 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Posted by DWKSwed

IMO, if you see an apt and you like it a lot and you're comfortable, just go for it ASAP. If you wait and look around there is a very good chance that you could lose it. It has happened to me before. It's okay if you spend a day looking at a couple of apartments but you have to move quickly if it's in demand.

I completely agree. When FH and I were looking for our first apartment, I saw one that I loved, but when I finally got around to making an appointment for him to see it with me, it was already taken.

Go for the one with the utilities included.....you'd be surprised how much it adds up.

barbtony Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:12 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Coming from someone that just went through this....If you see one you think is the right one, grab it - they go fast!!!!!! There's a lot of crap out there!!!!!!

CappyGirl Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:13 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Do you really need a 2-bedroom? If the 2BR is more than you wanted to spend, would it make sense to get a 1BR, especially if its not a long-term living situation?

ETA: we are looking into large 1BRs because we would, at some point in the next 3-5 years, get a house.

stinenandy2010 Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:13 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Try to get a 2 bedroom if possible, you will need the space, our first apt was not and it was awful, we moved out after 6 months. As far as utilities, the most important thing is what type of heat. My utilities ran $400/month bc I didn't know we had electric heat till we moved in, which is alot.

20mrsc10 Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:23 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

fh and i are looking for the same move in date

so far, i looked at 6 apartments, and were sending in the paperwork for one tomorrow-hopefully we'll be approved

it's a one bedroom, one bath apartment that's decently large, 3 closets, dining area, lr, kitchen for 1300/month, heat/water included

no brokers fee, and they allow pets, so it's everything we were looking for, just a lil higher than our price range

they have 2 bedrooms in the complex-check out broadwall management

jackieee Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:38 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Where did you look? Those prices seem pretty good, but if you keep looking you might be able to find better.

gas/electric/cable for us is usually $260-280 a month!

My first apt on my own I think I looked at 2, and I knew it was PERFECT!

The apt I'm in now I looked for maybe 2-3 weeks at a handful and again KNEW this was the one. You just get that feeling. We are going to start looking again soon too.

Good luck!

jackieee Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:39 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Posted by DWKSwed

IMO, if you see an apt and you like it a lot and you're comfortable, just go for it ASAP. If you wait and look around there is a very good chance that you could lose it. It has happened to me before. It's okay if you spend a day looking at a couple of apartments but you have to move quickly if it's in demand.

SOO TRUE! They gooo so quick. The two apts I got, once I knew I signed and did everything quickly!! Like the next day! otherwise, they would have been G O N E!

MikesBride2B Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:47 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

I only saw 2 places...the second was exactly what we were looking for and less than we wanted to spend. The same day I saw it I put a deposit down...so obviously I don't think you're moving too fast lol.

That being said...I love our place but its a little bit of a sh!thole, which I didn't notice at first...the price and the space grabbed me (3 bedrooms for $1500/month).

And I guess if it helps, we spend ~$400 on utilities (cable, gas, electric) a month, give or take about $50. We have gas heat, electric stove, central air and a gas dryer down in the basement.

JayBee216 Posted: Apr 27, 2010 12:56 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

I've only apt hunted in NYC which is insane, but I would say that if you like a place and you feel like you could live there, put the $$ to hold it right away!

Also, in terms of utilities, def try to get them included - our last place they were SO expensive (like $300/month in the winter & summer) that I stopped even putting the AC on and made it work with a low-electricity fan!

Our place now has it included, so we just pay cable and electricity (which is really low).

AdriandSteve Posted: Apr 27, 2010 01:16 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

hmmm...
how much are you able to negotiate with rentals?

JayBee216 Posted: Apr 27, 2010 01:17 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

Posted by AdriandSteve

hmmm...
how much are you able to negotiate with rentals?

OMG - we negotiated A LOT.

We were able to get the rent down $100/month and also only put down 1st & security (they wanted first, last & security)

all you have to do is ask!

Alyssa79 Posted: Apr 27, 2010 01:37 PM

Re: I'm new to this renting business so advice is needed

i looked at a ton of them b/c i'm so picky! i actually saw a tiny snippet of a pic of the one im in now on Craigslist and knew it was the one. sure enough i put the deposit down either that day or the next.

you'll feel it if it's the one.

i also agree with having the utilities included. my 1st aprtment wasnt and the prices jumped around like crazy. i even think that the tenants downstairs had something screwy with their electric that it got tacked onto my bill. there's no way with 2 people working 2 jobs and coming home at 11-12 at night to be paying $250 for electric with no heat, lights on or ac running and never being home.