How to Find your Perfect Apartment

By Olumide T. Agunbiade

Many apartment hunters don’t know exactly what they’re looking for when they start an apartment search. Others think they have a good idea but then have difficulty identifying what they want versus what they need. But deciding upfront what you require in a new home, as opposed to what would be nice to have, is important because it can help streamline your apartment search and get you the perfect rental faster.

 Chances are, you’ll find an apartment that you like that doesn't have exactly everything you’re looking for, and so you’ll need to ask yourself whether that’s okay before you agree to pay. Keep in mind that to fit the bill, an apartment should have everything that you need, and hopefully at least some of what you want.

Why Identifying wants versus Needs is important.

Consider these common scenarios while apartment hunting.

How to Recognize and Avoid Rental Scams

By Olumide T. Agunbiade

If you are looking for an apartment, the last thing you want is fall victim to a rental scam. Scam artists like to take advantage of prospective tenants because emotions involved in the apartment hunting process can make people more vulnerable.

For instance if you’re feeling excited and enthusiastic about finding a new home, your eagerness might make you become more trusting. Scam artists also prey on apartment hunters who have constraint of time (due to nature of job, personal issues, etc.) and are desperate to find a new place as soon as possible.

Rental Scams can come in varying forms.

The scammer tries to collect money from a prospective tenant for an apartment he has no legal authority over or is in no position to rent; Scammers typically try to get money from the unsuspecting apartment seeker before vanishing. For instance, a tenant who is vacating his apartment might decide to show it, pretending to be the landlord. He might lead unsuspecting tenants to believe they are getting the apartment and collect fees from them. Once the prospects realize that they have been scammed, the scammer vanishes with the money.

Fortunately, there are ways to lower the likelihood, thus avoiding being caught up in the web of rental scams.

Here’s what you should keep in mind when looking for an apartment