Regardless of how often you move around it can be stressful
to find a new place. At New Longview, we aim to answer all questions and keep
the entire leasing process as transparent as possible. We’ve talked to quite a few
new renters over the years and have a list of top questions to ask yourself
before finding a new apartment and signing a lease. This list may not be
exhaustive, but it will get you on the right track!
Moving to Lee’s Summit or the Kansas City area? New Longview
may be for you! Look around our website for pictures, apartment and community
features, and more. Apply
now to see what floorplans are available today!
1.
What do I need and what can I afford?
Before you start looking for an
apartment you need to figure out what you’re looking for exactly, and what price
range. Regardless of if you’re renting or moving anytime soon, it’s a good idea
to put a budget together. Look at your recent bank and card statements to put together
a list of regular monthly expenses. Some of these expenses will be easy to
find, like phone, internet, and cable bills, and others you may need to average
out like groceries, utilities, and dining out. If you are thinking about moving
keep in mind that most apartments require three times the rent, so if you want
a place that’s $1,000/month you’d have to make $3,000/month (before taxes).
Some apartments do include utilities, but others don’t so it’s better to budget
for those costs as well.
Once you have an idea of a price
range you should make a list of wants and needs for an apartment and the
community. Think about what you’d like versus what are your dealbreakers. For
example, you may enjoy the look of wood flooring and an open concept kitchen,
but absolutely need in-unit laundry. If you’re an avid fitness enthusiast you
may require a 24-hour fitness center on the property, or if you have children
maybe a gated community is a need. If you’re living with a roommate or partner
make sure you include them on this conversation as well, as some of your wants
may be their needs.
2.
Where do I want to live?
Once you have a better idea of the
what, you should narrow down the where. This is obviously the
city, but also the neighborhood. For example, are you more laid-back or have a
family and want a more suburban feel? Or do you prefer an urban environment,
like something in downtown KCMO? Also think about nearby areas you’d like, such
as entertainment, and libraries. If you have a dog or enjoy nature consider
parks and hiking trails.
Keep these types of thoughts in
mind as you start to tour apartments, and consider giving yourself enough time
before or after to drive around the neighborhood. You could also even put the
address into Google Maps and see what businesses are advertised near there. The
leasing team can also be a great resource, since they work and most likely live
around there.
3.
How will I get to work?
This is an important question,
especially if you’re moving for work. How long are you willing to travel to and
from work every day? Are you going to drive or do you prefer public transportation?
Google Maps and Waze allow you to put in both addresses and gives you average
travel times during rush hour or whenever you’d leave of a morning or evening. Google
Maps also has the same technology for public transportation.
If you work remote or don’t go
to a physical office every day you may have a different set of needs. For example,
you’ll need a reliable internet connection for uploads, downloads, and
conference calls. Also, even though it’s known as “working from home”, you
probably won’t want to stay in your apartment all day every day. What coffee
shops, libraries, or other coworking options are nearby? Some apartment communities
themselves offer business centers or coworking lounges so you don’t even have
to pay for overpriced coffee to use the WiFi.
4.
What are the lease terms and community
rules?
The last thing you want after
signing away the next 12 or more months is to find out a term or condition you
weren’t aware of. A good leasing agent will go over any questions beforehand,
and bring up anything important without asking. Some important policies to know
about are pets, such as weight limits, breed restrictions, deposits, and
monthly fees.
Some other important rules to
know about are:
·
Painting, hanging pictures, and other
decorations
·
Parking options and upgrades
·
Visitor policies and guest parking
·
Community area (pool, fitness center, etc.)
hours and rules]
·
Lease terms, and how to break the lease if
necessary
·
How and when to pay the rent
·
Renter’s insurance
·
Hooking up utilities
5.
When and how am I moving?
It’s no secret that moving isn’t
the most fun activity. While looking for apartments may be enjoyable, the
actual act of moving is not. The good news is that with proper planning even
moving doesn’t have to be that stressful! First, make a game plan. Figure out
when you’re moving and make goals for yourself between now and then, packing up
so many boxes or rooms per evening or weekend. Make it reasonable and actually
stick to it, because you definitely don’t want to be packing everything last
minute. Make sure to mark the outside of the boxes properly as well, with both
the contents and the room to make unpacking easier. Keep in mind the items you’ll
need sooner rather than later, and items you’ll still be using as your moving
date approaches. Pack in reverse order, starting with items like off-season
clothing, extra bedding, and decorations.
You’ll also need to determine
how to get from point A to point B. While hiring a professional moving company
will make things a lot easier, they can get expensive if you need them for more
than a few hours. If you’re only moving across town and have a lot of heavy
furniture that rental fee would probably be worth it. If you’re moving a longer
distance or only have boxes and lighter furniture it might behoove you to rent
a box truck and cash in some IOUs with friends.
Do you have moving tips and tricks? Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to let us know!