Your house or apartment can be such an important place — it’s where you sleep, study and sometimes slack off — so you want to make sure you choose it well. When touring a potential living situation, here are some questions to ask.
Ask yourself (and your roommate if applicable)
What are the most important things to me?
Everyone has different priorities when it comes to housing. For some it's price, for others it's convenience. Knowing what things are non-negotiable for you, and what you could do without, can help you evaluate a living option. Maybe a prospective apartment doesn't get a ton of natural light, but water is included in the rent. You'll have to decide which matters more to you and your situation.
What can I deal with and what will I not put up with?
Unless you’re subleasing just for a few months, you’re likely to spend a lot of time at your house or apartment. A thing that seemed small at first, like not having a dishwasher, might become frustrating after half a year. Or it might not. That’s going to depend on you and your lifestyle.
Ask the landlord
What utilities are included in the rent? How are utilities paid?
These are absolutely essential things to know, especially because they can differ wildly from management company to management company. Make sure to keep an eye on things that tend to fly under the radar, like trash collection and lawn care. Some landlords take care of lawn maintenance, and some expect you to keep it up yourself.
How does parking and laundry work?
This is another aspect of housing situations that varies considerably. If you have a car, do not forget to ask about parking. There may be a system of permits and/or reserved spots, or it could be a free-for-all. If you plan to have people over, think about what visitor parking looks like, as well.
What does the maintenance request system look like?
You’ll want to know how to submit maintenance requests and how quickly issues are addressed. If something big goes wrong, like broken pipes causing a flood, it’s also good to know ahead of time how management would address that, and whether you’re expected to have renter’s insurance.
Having some questions prepared for a prospective landlord can help you get the most out of a house or apartment tour. These are some suggested queries, but feel free to add questions so that you can find the best place for you.
This article was originally published in the Housing & Living Guide, an IDS special publication.
