6 Things to Know About Apartment Hunting in the Spring

By Alicia Geigel

While summer may be considered the favorite season to move, the spring season is just as great, if not better, to start apartment hunting and prepare for a move! The mild, warmer temperatures combined with lowered rent prices and new units opening up can give you the greatest opportunity to secure the perfect apartment for you.

If you’re ready to dive into the hunt, here’s what you should know about finding an apartment in the spring!

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1. Perfect Weather to Move: There is a reason why winter is the least popular season to move — people don’t like moving in the cold! While the summer season arguably attracts the most movers, spring is the best time to start apartment searching and begin your move. As the colder months of winter are fading away, the weather is slowly warming up, which means milder temperatures and more sunny days without the scorching heat of winter. You’ll be much more comfortable moving during the spring than in the extreme temperatures of winter and summer- take advantage of the nice weather!
2. An Influx of College Rentals: You might think it is unusual, but come the spring season, there is actually an influx of college rentals on the market, especially if you live in a college town. Depending on the months of spring that you decide to apartment hunt and move, you can get first dibs on the soon-to-be empty apartments as students leave for the summer. As you search around for a new place, keep your eyes open for new college rental listings, which you can likely get at a good price!
3. Opportunity to Negotiate: From the start of the winter season to the end, landlords and property managers are desperate to find tenants to fill their units, as demand for apartments and housing is at its lowest during this time. With the arrival of spring, landlords and property managers will start preparing units to be rented out, which can give you a golden opportunity to negotiate what you’ll pay or any benefits you can get. As you are searching for your perfect apartment, contact the leasing office and ask if there are any kind of promotional discounts for renting at this time of the year, such as: reduced rent, a discounted security deposit, a free month of rent, reduced utilities, etc. You may think you’re asking a lot, but it doesn’t hurt to ask about these opportunities, because many landlords and property managers are willing to offer discounts to keep their rental business afloat before the summer.
4. Better Rental Rates: Speaking of good prices, spring is the best season to get better rental rates for apartments. During the winter time, demand for rentals is the lowest of the year, as people don’t normally move during the school season and when it’s cold. As the winter season goes away and spring begins to approach, landlords are likely eager to get a head start on their business and fill any vacant apartments they have before the summer hits. Because of this, the rental rates are lower, and there is also an opportunity for you to negotiate with your potential landlord to get an even better rate or extra benefits.
5. Clear Picture of Utility Costs: Between using the heat to offset the frigid temperatures of the winter and cranking up AC in the scorching heat of the summer, utility costs can be through the roof. Spring is the perfect balance of the two seasons and is also the best time to get a clear picture of the utility costs. Ask your potential landlord about what utility costs typically run throughout the year and they should be able to give you a good estimate.
6. Ideal for Spring Cleaning: Other than flowers blooming and warming weather, spring is a wonderful time of year to deep clean your apartment, especially if you plan on moving during this time. Open up your windows and let fresh air in, play some of your favorite music, break down your home by rooms/areas, and get to cleaning! Start with de-cluttering and getting rid of stuff that you don’t need by either throwing it away, donating it or even selling it online. Then organize your belongings into containers, boxes, and bins to save yourself a headache later on. Lastly, vacuum, sweep, dust, scrub, mop, and wipe down any and all surfaces that need some TLC.

With the onset of the spring season comes the perfect opportunity to start apartment hunting. Between the mild weather, reduced rates, and influx of apartments on the market, you’ll be able to find your dream place in no time!