When you decide to rent an off-campus apartment, be sure you understand the nuances of the lease and make sure you conduct a thorough apartment inspection of the exact unit you’re renting. If you don’t, you may find yourself on the hook later for damages that were incurred before you even moved in and if the damage is substantial, you may be on the hook for the maintenance cost unless you have Renter’s Insurance.
Apartment Inspection
Marks or Holes in the Walls – Many apartment renters will take the time to repaint an apartment and clean the carpets before new tenants move in. However, that isn’t always the case and even if it’s, you’ll want to conduct a thorough inspection of all the walls to make sure there are no dings or holes. Check inside closets as well as on exterior room walls. Hidden problems could come back to bite you later on.
Try out all the appliances – If there’s a dishwasher, close it up and start it. Make sure it starts to run. Turn on the oven and make sure it heats. Check all burners on the stove. Look at the freezer compartment on your refrigerator and make sure it’s cold. If there’s an ice maker, check to see if it works.
Plumbing problems – These messy problems may not cost you money, but they can be a big hassle, particularly if they aren’t identified before you move in. On your inspection walk through, check the sinks in the kitchen and bath to ensure that both cold and hot water can be obtained. Open cabinets below the sink to look for drips or leaks while the water is running. At this point, you’re looking for maintenance issues that would be best fixed before you move in. Close the tub and run some water into it. See if the plug holds. Turn on the shower and check the water pressure. If there are problems, report them to the manager at this time.
These few simple tasks will save you time and money later on and help ensure that your apartment is in tip top shape and ready for you to move in.
These are just a few potential problem areas you should check before signing a lease for an apartment. Did we miss anything? What other areas should you check before moving in? Do you have a story about a time in which you paid the price for not conducting a thorough inspection? Let us know know about them in the comment section below.
Equal Housing Opportunity
7 Comments. Leave new
Good post. Another thing to look out for is mold.
This was a very informative post. Often times, I’ve found the little nuances of leases and the apartments upkeep to be very frustrating, especially with off-campus housing. It’s helpful to be aware of the things leasing agents will look for after move-out inspection.
[…] be sure to ask for a walk through of the place you have decided to call home. You need to take note of anything in the apartment that does not seem up to standard. Any scratches, stains or damage […]
[…] you do your initial walk through it’s important to point out every little scratch, dent and spot you see. Every apartment has […]
[…] woes may limit your apartment options to substandard housing, there are certain things you should never settle for such […]
[…] is why having a full inspection of your apartment when you first move in will save you money in the long run. Note anything needing […]
[…] to simply tell the landlord about any issues you find when doing your first inspection. Be sure to check thoroughly, including signs of mold, dry rot and appliance condition. When the landlord fixes those problems, […]