Renting
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Ask to view the specific apartment you will occupy instead of a model unit to prevent deceptive practices.
Display units frequently differ from standard ones, which can be dirty or have pest problems.
4 people, independently
Drive through the complex and neighborhood at night to judge parking, noise levels, and safety.
Night visits reveal loud neighbors, dodgy areas, and potential dangers.
3 people, independently
Test doors for smooth opening and closing to detect warped wood.
Wood may be warped.
one person who lived it
Check if windows lock, are sealed, are painted shut, or have thin glass that may be noisy and leaky.
Thin glass can be noisy and leaky.
one person who lived it
Add a third roommate you know and trust to split costs.
More rooms result in cheaper rent and utility costs per person.
one person who lived it
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Review your lease and building regulations before setting up a portable washer, as some landlords ban them.
Be flexible with your move-in date and keep looking until a cheaper option appears.
Seek out owners who have already paid off their mortgage, as they may not need to charge as much.
one person who lived it
Look for studio apartments in nicer complexes.
Sometimes these can be found for $500 a month.
one person who lived it
Try to secure a top-floor unit to avoid noise from upstairs neighbors.
To prevent disturbance from an upstairs neighbor.
2 people, independently
Be aware that real estate agents have a financial incentive to push for the highest possible price.
Agents earn a percentage of the sales price, so a higher bid increases their commission.
one person who lived it
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Review your lease and building regulations before setting up a portable washer, as some landlords ban them.
Violating these rules in many condos or apartments can lead to eviction.
3 people, independently
Check internet compatibility and speed limits before signing a lease.
You may be stuck with slow, throttled internet for the duration of the lease.
one person who lived it
Choose apartments based on travel time rather than map distance.
You may find cheaper apartments that appear far away on a map but have direct connections to your workplace or university.
one person who lived it
Ask friends about their past living experiences to identify suitable areas and choose a place close to them.
It helps you know where to look and saves money on social costs.
one person who lived it
Avoid renting units near pools or playgrounds.
Children are louder than expected, creating constant noise.
one person who lived it
Apply immediately for apartments you are interested in rather than trusting verbal assurances that no one else has applied.
Landlords may claim no one has applied while others are ahead in line, leading to lost opportunities.
one person who lived it
Offer to pay a full year of rent upfront to secure a multi-year lease if you have a lump sum but lack a job or credit history.
- One person reported this worked for them after receiving life insurance money.
one person who lived it
Avoid bottom-floor units in flood-prone areas like Florida.
Bottom units are susceptible to flooding after hurricanes.
one person who lived it
Drive around town looking for 'For Rent' signs instead of relying solely on online listings.
This method may be cheaper than properties listed by apartment complexes online.
one person who lived it
- Check local newspapers for rental listings, as good deals can sometimes be found there.1
Show up at apartments between 12 PM and 6 PM without an appointment to find the superintendent onsite.
This often allows for immediate tours and cuts out unnecessary hassle.
one person who lived it
Avoid homes with carpeted washrooms and entrances.
Carpet in these areas is considered unhygienic and difficult to clean if soiled.
one person who lived it
Test all functional aspects such as cabinets, faucets, toilets, lights, outlets, windows, and locks before signing the lease.
Discovering issues after moving in is difficult to deal with.
one person who lived it
Take photos and video of a rental property before moving in to document existing conditions.
This provides undeniable proof of pre-existing damage, protecting you against false claims when you move out.
2 people, independently
- Take photos of the unit before moving in to document pre-existing damages.1
Choose apartments with amenities like trash pickup, cable, alarm systems, and maintenance included in rent to save effort and money.
Having immaculate grounds and services handled by others is well worth the rent.
one person who lived it
Avoid renting units near trash dumpsters.
Daily dumping involves loud banging and reverse alarms.
one person who lived it
Ask the landlord to clearly explain all building rules before you commit, specifically regarding quiet hours, painting, nails in walls, guest limits, and alcohol.
Some apartments have different quiet hour times than the city.
one person who lived it
Look for condominiums for rent from individual owners who may price below market rate to retain tenants.
Some owners prefer having tenants stay rather than looking for better deals.
one person who lived it
Verify that the property manager can provide access codes for the shared laundry facility.
Inability to provide codes or reluctance to show the room is a red flag.
one person who lived it
Ask current residents about their experience rather than relying solely on the landlord or model units.
Model units may be outdated to manage expectations; owners/managers may not give unbiased answers.
2 people, independently
Document pre-existing damage with the landlord or realtor present to avoid future liability.
To prevent being held responsible for existing issues later.
one person who lived it
Verify who the owner is before giving money to a landlord who refuses to meet you at the potential rental unit.
one person who lived it
Write essays explaining your financial history and proving your willingness and ability to pay rent to convince private landlords.
- Based on one person's experience where they were required to do this.
one person who lived it
Visit potential rental properties at night, especially around your usual sleep time, to check for noise from nearby traffic or parking lots.
one person who lived it
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Verify high-speed internet availability and speed in the specific area, as speeds can vary over short distances and some areas lack fiber optic access.
Look under the sink to see if the wood beneath the pipes is warped.
Warped wood indicates leaks.
one person who lived it
Check cabinets, baseboards, walls, and floor specks for pest droppings or bugs, specifically looking for roach poop in drawer corners.
Bedbugs and cockroaches may be impossible to get rid of once you move in.
one person who lived it
Ask if the unit uses electric heating, as it can be expensive in cold climates.
Electric heating is expensive when used frequently in areas where it gets cold.
- This is not a significant issue if you live in an area that never gets cold.
2 people, independently
Ask the landlord for the average utility bills for the past 6 months to estimate costs.
Utility costs can vary depending on appliance age and house efficiency.
one person who lived it
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Check for trash accumulation near shopping centers, as it indicates rat presence.
More trash bags mean rats.
one person who lived it
View the property after it rains to identify leaks, puddles, and drainage issues.
Rain reveals how bad conditions can get, such as where leaves and dirt accumulate in puddles.
2 people, independently
Check for snow removal and flooding issues in the parking area.
Atrocious snow removal can prevent getting to work, and flooding can be a problem during rain.
one person who lived it
If you live in a warm climate, work out the insulation quality to avoid high summer utility bills.
Poor insulation can lead to outrageously high utility costs.
one person who lived it
Check if there are neighbors above you to anticipate potential noise issues.
Neighbors above can get noisy.
one person who lived it
Inspect outlet covers and light switches for fresh paint, which may hide older wiring behind cosmetic fixes.
Sellers may replace only obvious outlets while leaving the majority unwired correctly.
one person who lived it
Check ceilings for sagging.
Sagging indicates roof leaks.
one person who lived it
Inspect common facilities for dirt, broken items, stained walls, or missing lights to gauge the quality of the residents.
The condition of shared spaces reflects the type of people living in the building.
one person who lived it
Check if the fire alarm triggers falsely during warm showers.
One person reported their alarm went off every time they took a warm shower.
one person who lived it
Verify high-speed internet availability and speed in the specific area, as speeds can vary over short distances and some areas lack fiber optic access.
- Some areas may only have satellite options with data caps
- Speeds can drop drastically just one mile away
3 people, independently
Inspect ceilings in closets for evidence of leaks, as they are often unpainted.
Unpainted surfaces make leak evidence more visible.
one person who lived it
Verify that air conditioning actually functions, especially in hot climates, rather than relying on thermostat labels.
A landlord may claim there is no AC despite the thermostat indicating cooling.
one person who lived it
Call local internet providers directly to verify service availability for your address rather than relying on online address checkers.
Online tools may incorrectly indicate coverage, leading to being stuck with subpar options like satellite internet.
one person who lived it
Check whether bathroom tiles are sealed to prevent dust accumulation.
Unsealed tiles can result in a constant layer of dust.
one person who lived it
Sample a basic menu item, such as a small margherita pizza, to test quality.
If they cannot execute simple ingredients like cheese and sauce correctly, they likely will not succeed with more complex items.
one person who lived it
Inspect maintenance quality, such as countertops and appliance repairs, as poor fixes indicate neglect.
Poor appliance repair suggests delays when appliances break.
one person who lived it
Perform a speed test for cellular data and check available home internet options during the walkthrough.
Many real estate agents cannot answer questions about internet quality.
one person who lived it
Verify exactly what internet providers mean by 'high-speed,' as DSL is often marketed this way despite lacking a technical definition.
Sales representatives may label any connection that isn't dial-up as high-speed.
one person who lived it
Understand the process for requesting maintenance services when problems arise.
This is pretty important.
one person who lived it
Examine roof shingles for waviness or discoloration, which indicates a need for replacement.
Wavy or discolored shingles suggest a large reroofing bill ahead.
one person who lived it
Inspect the foundation outside for cracks, specifically avoiding vertical cracks that do not follow mortar lines.
Cracks are not necessarily a dealbreaker, but certain types indicate structural issues.
one person who lived it
Inspect window panes and sills for insulation, holes, and temperature changes to estimate upkeep quality and potential heating/cooling bills.
This gives a good estimate of the quality of upkeep and associated heating/cooling bills.
one person who lived it
Check bathrooms for mold and mildew, especially if the fan doesn't work or there is no window.
Humidity combined with a non-working fan and no window creates a new home for mildew.
one person who lived it
Use a squeeze bottle bidet or install a self-fitted sprayer attachment for less than $20 to avoid plumbing alterations or electricity.
3 people, independently
Check the number and accessibility of power outlets, especially in bathrooms.
One person lived in a place with no plugs near the bathroom.
one person who lived it
Check if your landlord allows bidet installation before purchasing one.
Landlords may be upset by unauthorized installations.
one person who lived it