How to Plan for Your First Apartment
- 1). Start planning well in advance. Moving into an apartment, particularly for the first time, can be stressful. There are numerous aspects of moving to consider, from how to furnish your apartment to how much apartment you can afford. The earlier you begin to consider these components, the more smoothly your apartment hunting will be.
- 2). Get your finances in order. Whether you are renting or buying an apartment, be prepared to shell out some money up front, particularly if you have little to no rental history. If you are purchasing an apartment, your monetary goal is 10 percent of the purchase price as a down payment. If you are renting, be prepared to pay first month's rent and a security deposit. No matter which option you choose, chances are you will also have to provide a credit report to prove your creditworthiness to a mortgage company or landlord.
- 3). Make a list of apartment attributes that are important to you. Key features vary among different apartment types. For example, you might opt for a two-bedroom apartment with a separate living room and den. Alternatively, you may prefer a studio apartment with one large open space, particularly for a first apartment. Make a list of the apartment attributes that are most important to you, and focus on the first few during your search.
- 4). Schedule an appointment with a real estate professional to go over your options. You may have more apartment options than you think, depending on the area in which you are looking for your first apartment. Meet with a real estate professional and allow them to present you with several different options so you have a more specific idea of the type of apartment you seek.
- 5). View several different types of apartments. Take some time and visit different apartments in person, particularly since this is your first. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the apartment features you thought were important take a back seat to other apartment attributes.
