Tips for finding a good rental apartment in Austin

 

Finding a good rental apartment can be a daunting and stressful task. There's nothing quite like the stress of packing up your belongings, moving out before someone else is scheduled to move in, experiencing the agony of apartment hunting, and waiting for application results. It doesn't have to be so difficult, though. That is why we've prepared these tips for finding a good rental apartment in Austin on our blog to help you out.

Start looking as soon as possible

Start looking for an apartment a few months before your intended move-in date, especially if you're relocating to a popular city like Austin. Listings might alter or disappear at any time. Consider seeking a similar atmosphere but at a lesser cost and with greater availability on the outskirts of the city to avoid competition.

Get help from experts

Getting some help from experts like brokers and movers can be a lifesaver. Brokers have a better insight into the markets and will help get better deals! Moving companies like Heavenly Moving and Storage will help you get into your new rental apartment in Austin much faster.

Getting help from movers and brokers will make this process much easier!

Watch out for the red flags

Keep an eye out for red flags, such as poor online reviews or a possible landlord who refuses to speak with you. If you notice something you don't like, such as chipped paint or leaky plumbing, check if you can bargain for upgrades before leaving.

Check the lengths of the leases twice. You don't want to sign a one-year lease just to find out it's a short-term rental or, on the other side, a two-year lease. Learn about the many types of apartments and facilities that are available in your region. A kitchen and a kitchenette are not the same things, and a studio apartment and an efficiency flat are not the same things either.

Finding a good rental apartment in Austin last minute

Don't be alarmed! There are still a lot of ads available. Look for available flats on Craigslist and local rental brokers. Check with your friends and relatives to see if they know of any available rentals. Make sure your credit score is in good shape and that your credit report is free of inaccuracies.

See if any apartments are advertised on social media, particularly on Facebook neighborhood groups. Keep an eye out for "for rent" signs as you travel around your new area. Many private landlords will not advertise with anything more than that. Make a contingency plan, such as booking an Airbnb or a low-cost hotel, so you don't end up without a place to live in time.

If you're applying for many apartments, be aware of the credit reporting rules. In certain places, you can't pull your credit from more than one possible landlord in a 30-day period. Keep all of your application paperwork, including your credit report, in a folder or on a thumb drive that you can readily pass over to possible landlords.

Finding a good rental apartment in Austin last minute can be very hard, but if you are properly prepared, it will be a breeze!

Plan your budget

The first thing you should do when looking for an apartment is to set a budget for how much you want to spend. This covers your rent, utilities, food, and any anticipated move-in fees. Also keep in mind any other bills or commitments you may have, such as gas, parking, phone bills, internet, and other obligations.

Keeping your rent expenses under 30% of your monthly income is the usual practice. If you have a lot of stuff, movers can be expensive, and that is why you should consider downsizing your home. All of this gives you the opportunity to save and budget for your other monthly costs.

Additional space costs more

It's crucial to remember that certain features might increase or decrease the cost of an apartment. Living in the center of an apartment building, for example, is usually less expensive than living on the top or bottom levels. Also, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms has a significant influence on the price, so think about how much space you'll need and don't overdo it. 

Remember the fees

Don't forget to count in the fees that come with hiring brokers and movers. They can get expensive, but they are worth every penny. They will make your apartment hunt and move the simplest process possible, and help you out a lot. If you don't have lots of stuff, you can consider hourly movers. It is much easier to move your stuff with an extra pair of hands and it can save your back too!

Pets

Tell landlords how many pets you have and what kind they are. If you lie about your pet situation, you'll almost certainly lose your flat. Bring your pet with you when looking at rentals if at all feasible. You'll be able to avoid certain frequent pet-in-new-places issues, such as marking or racing through screen doors, this way.

If you have any pets, don’t lie about them because that can cost you your apartment!

If a possible landlord needs to check immunizations, make sure your pet is up to date on vaccines. Examine the issue with the pet rent. Is the apartment pet-friendly, or does it need a pet deposit or pet rent? Are there any breed limitations?

Don't rush

Take your time when walking through the building and the apartment. When property managers show their properties, they frequently have a lot on their thoughts, including other tour groups, current tenant concerns, and operations to handle. They could want to get you through the screening as quickly as they can.

However, this is their job, and you are free to look about the apartment for as long as you like. Make an effort to connect with them by talking about yourself and asking more questions so that they remember you. This may influence their decision to use your app over another.

Insurance

Renters insurance is far more vital than most people realize, especially if you are moving your business to Texas with you, and it is also fairly inexpensive. This safeguards everything you possess in your flat in the event of a disaster, such as a fire or a break-in. 

It only takes some phone calls to local insurance agencies to do this. Just be careful to estimate the entire cost of all your goods that will be inside the good rental apartment in Austin before you call, since this is often the only non-personal information you will have to offer.