How to Find Cheap Apartments
How to Find Cheap Apartments
Finding an apartment can be quite the daunting task, not to mention the stress of moving. Finding a cheap apartmentapartments in cochin can be even more difficult. You want to save money, but you also want to live in a neighborhood that your friends and family will feel comfortable visiting and you will feel comfortable living in. Here are a few tips that can keep the apartment industry from kicking you where it counts: your wallet.
Instructions
1.
o 1
Calculate how much you can afford for your rent each month and come up with a budget. Be sure to include utilities such as electricity, phone, Internet connection and water bills in your budget.
o 2
Take an inventory of all of your belongings that will be going with you on the move. How much space are you going to need? If you rarely eat at home,or entertain groups, is a dining room really a necessity, or would an efficiency do the trick? If you don’t need two bedrooms, don’t get two bedrooms. If you need space for a home office, you can opt for a one-bedroom with a den. Or, if you’re really pinching pennies, you can use a small breakfast area as a make-shift office.
o 3
Narrow down the areas you want to live in. Consider things such as distance from your workplace, convenience to major highways, nearby attractions, the amount of traffic in the area, and proximity to grocery stores, gas stations and the like.
o 4
Choosing an apartment a little further from highly populated areas could save you quite a bit in rent each month, but beware you could make up for those savings in the amount you spend on gas alone. The safest choice is right down the middle. Not in the heart of all the local attractions, restaurants and nightlife; but not so far away that you can’t take advantage of any of them either.
o 5
Look online at apartment community websites if you need help saving time and travel while searching for your apartment. You can narrow down your choices by viewing the descriptions, amenities, prices, photos and in some cases, even taking an online virtual tour of the apartment without leaving the comfort of your couch.
o 6
Pick up a local apartment publication. Many of these are free and can be found in the entrances of most grocery stores and gas stations. These publications are usually updated every month to reflect current information.
o 7
Call the communities you are interested in, or many of them have email addresses you can utilize instead. You’ll want to ask for the current monthly rates and any move-in specials. Keep in mind, this information can change daily, so try not to wait too long to visit the apartment.
A special such as two months free rent can seem enticing and up front specials such as this are great if you are low on funds only for the moment.flats in cochinYou may need to save money for utility deposits, security deposits, application fees, movers and insurance. If you are looking to save money over the course of your lease, you will want to look for specials that are pro-rated throughout your entire lease term, saving you money every month. A lower monthly rent for a long period of time is going to benefit the cheap apartment hunter more than a one-time reduction.
o 8
Visit the community and take a tour. Remember, cheaper is not always better. You want to find an inexpensive apartment, but you also don’t want tobe afraid to leave your home. Some cheap apartments are just that…cheap. Take a look at how the community’s appearance is kept up. Is there trash in the parking lot, are there broken down cars, junky patios? Try to take a look at a vacant apartment, not just a model, to make sure the quality you will be moving into is the same as the model.
o 9
Drive through the neighborhood at night or on a weekend. You’ll want to make sure there aren’t a lot of people loitering in the parking lots. Check that there is sufficient lighting in the parking lots, common areas and breezeways.
o 10
Decide what you can sacrifice and what you really need. For example, do you really need a 24-hour fitness center even though you haven’t worked out in over a year? Can you live without cathedral style ceilings which can raise your electric utility bill? Is covered parking really necessary if you are driving a beat up car that barely gets you from place to place? Remember that all of these “luxuries,” whether you use them or not, come with a higher price tag.
o 11
Compare prices at surrounding communities to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck.
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