What should I look for while viewing an apartment?
Moving out on your own is a huge challenge, especially if it's your first time and you don't know what to look for. Most people know to ask potential landlords about pets, damage deposits, rent, and lease lengths- but what about the actual apartment itself? This post is designed to help people navigate apartment viewings, make informed decisions, and recognize red flags.
Apartment viewing checklist:
Always try to go to apartment viewings in person. While a virtual tour may sound appealing (especially with our current global circumstances), landlords use this to their advantage to screw you over. Often the apartment shown in an add is (at best) a model suite, or (at worst) it's a completely different place all together. Landlords are lazy, they do not need to have an accurate or well made add to rent the place out.
What is the heating system based on? Is it electric, or oil? Is the heating bill included in the rent? Oil and hot water heat can be extremely expensive compared to basic electric, and oil is particularly pricey. Not to mention you would have to set up deliveries for your oil tank to be re-filled. Don't be afraid to ask your potential landlord if heating is included in the rent, or what the average heating bill could look like.
Is water included in your rent? How about hot water? These can be separate at times, depending on the building (apartment buildings usually include water, where as houses may not) and the heating set up. If heating is included in the rent, usually hot water is included in the rent as well-but be sure to ask!
Check all the outlets with a phone charger, specifically both sockets. Sometimes they will work and sometimes they won't, it's a crapshoot. Flip the light switches, and notice what lights they connect to. Do you have a circuit box in the unit, or is it controlled elsewhere?
Laundry, when and where do you take it? Is there a machine accessible to you in your unit, your building, another building, or will you need to go to a laundromat? If the machine is in the apartment, do you need to pay to power it? If you have access to a machine in general, is the machine free, coin operated, or do you use a refillable card? If it's a card, how and where do you fill it? Is a bill exchange station or machine available if it's a coin operated laundry machine, or will you need to go to the bank to get change?
Can you open the windows in the apartment? Do they have mold/rot in the creases? Do they lock? If they don't open, is it just painted shut, or is it something suspicious (ie. The window is nailed shut for some reason)? Can you feel a draft anywhere? If you're paying for heating, you do not want to be forking over an extra $200 in the winter as your heat escapes a poorly insulated apartment.
What do the cabinets under the bathroom and kitchen sink look like? Usually there's some water damage, but it can also be completely rotten. Check if the cabinet doors and drawers close properly, or if the handles are broken or wiggly. Always inspect the counter top, and make sure it's not floor tiling (Yes this happens, and it's really bad for cooking and cleaning).
Do the closet doors close properly and easily? Don't be afraid to poke around and look inside them either. Inspect the clothing rod to make sure it's properly drilled into the wall, and that it wont collapse if you put a heavy coat to hang. If the room doesn't have a closet, do the floors dip? You can always buy a clothing rack, but it needs to be able to stand up on a solid platform.
Speaking of floors, are there any soft spots in the floor? Linoleum and carpet will always be a bit softer than hardwood or tile, but heavy dips or soft spots means there's structural damage, and you don't want to get stuck in a 1-3 year lease for a place that's rotting from the inside.
How is the water pressure in each room with water access? Does your bathroom have an outlet? What does the tub and tiling look like? Is the caulking in good shape, or regularly replaced? Is there a window, or fan for proper ventilation? Bathrooms are a hot spot for mould and mildew. This is also a good place to check for soft spots.
Ceiling, is it water damaged? Why is it damaged, if so? This is not always bad, shit happens in an apartment building and leaks are not an immediate red flag-but it can be if you notice multiple poorly covered spots and your potential landlord avoids providing an explanation when prompted.
Is there a smoke detector? Is it battery powered, or is it wired in to the electrical? Are there any fire extinguishers available in case of an emergency?
Doors doors doors. Make sure all of them close, and that they do not get stuck on the floor. Drag marks are a big tell. Can you properly lock your front and or back doors?
If there's a deck, porch, or even a front step or something- is it rotted? Does it look like some kind of insect could be living in there? Wasps are particularly bad for living in these spaces, especially if the garbage is kept close by.
Can you hear your neighbours, if you have any? Checking this can be hard, as landlords usually give notice to tenants when viewing a unit in a large building, but it's worth listening to see what you can find.
Garbage and recycling is more important than you think. How, and where do you take it? How often? Some landlords will control your garbage disposal with an iron fist, and limit your amount to 1 bag every 2 weeks or something similar. It can make being clean extremely hard, especially if you are mentally ill or disabled. If your landlord does not handle the garbage, check your city's regulations on garbage and recycling. Some areas won't care what bags you use, but some will only collect clear or black bags- and you don't want to blow $10 on garbage bags you can't use. These regulations can change depending on your neighbourhood, not just your city.
If you can, take a walk around the neighbourhood. See what the area is like, and what is accessible to you. Are there bus routes near by? A grocery store? Even a corner store? Being in a food desert is sometimes unavoidable due to financial constraints, but it's always worth exploring to see what is available to you.
How does your potential landlord react to your examination of the apartment? How about when you ask questions pertaining to water and heating bills, or any cosmetic repairs? Try and analyze their body language if you can. If they make any snide comments, or get defensive while you look around, that is a huge red flag. Be careful.
This advice is not always applicable, or possible to adhere to when you are poor, or you're in a time sensitive situation. Beggers can't be choosers. However you shouldn't jump into a new lease without understanding what you're signing up for.
Being unaware of your apartment's issues can screw you over in the long run, financially and emotionally; especially if you're stuck in a multi-year lease with a dismissive or abusive landlord.
Be informed, be prepared, and do not let yourself be unknowingly exploited.
