Should You Rent this Apartment? 9 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Signing a Lease

When you’re considering leasing an apartment, you almost always consider factors like price and location. After all, expenses, convenience, and personal preferences will immediately affect your day-to-day life when you move into your new space. 

But there are other questions that you may not think to ask yourself, especially if you’re a first-time renter or if you’re moving to a completely new city. That’s why we’re here to ask those other important questions for you. 

The last thing you want is to sign a new lease on an apartment and discover maintenance issues related to the quality of things like plumbing, electricity, or the HVAC system. Here are some of the right questions to ask yourself to make sure your utility-related boxes are checked.

How strong is the water pressure? When you do a walkthrough of the rental property, turn on the sinks and showers to check on the pressure. If the pressure is noticeably low (and if that’s a deal breaker for you), don’t hesitate to ask your potential landlord or property manager if it can be fixed. If not, you may want to consider looking elsewhere.

Do all the electrical outlets work? It’s always a good idea to test electrical outlets, especially in spots you know will get a lot of use — in the kitchen, in the bathroom, and next to your bedside or couch where you might want to plug in charging cords. If they don’t work, ask if they can be fixed before the start of your tenancy.

Have you scanned the unit for damage? When you tour the apartment, scan the ceiling for water damage, and keep an eye out for holes in the walls or floorboards. Those are places where pests can sneak in. If there is noticeable damage, bring it up. There’s always a chance the landlord was planning on doing a renovation to fix it before new tenants moved in.

You’re right to be inclined that location is one of the most important factors to consider while apartment hunting. It goes beyond whether you like your new apartment; you’ll also need to consider where you live in relation to convenient and preferred places.

Have you timed out your commute? Especially if you go to work in person, it might be a good idea to map out your commute and see how long it would take you to get to work from your potential new home. Also think about the traffic you’ll experience in your area, whether during rush hour, if your neighborhood has events that draw large crowds, etc. If you’re paying less in monthly rent for a new place, but would need to commute for double the time, ask yourself if it’s worth it.

Are you aware of your parking situation? For many, especially those who live in densely populated areas, parking complications are a real headache. Ask your real estate agent or potential landlord what the parking is like on your street, and look around for signs that may tell you what you need to know. If you need to pay for parking, ask about what those additional fees on top of your rent payments may look like.

Are you close to transportation and/or food? If you don’t have a car, you’ll want to ask your agent where the nearest bus or train station is. Are you comfortable with the distance? Can you access the nearest grocery store easily for convenient errands?

Some of your preferences will take a top spot when it comes to considerations you make in your apartment search. Make a mental note of things in your current apartment that you would never give up, or things you’ve been saying you wish you had, before the end of your lease. Those will be essential to think about during your tours.

Does your apartment’s pet policy match your needs? If you have or plan to get a dog or cat, you’ll want to make sure you check your apartment’s pet policy (which you’ll find in the rental agreement) to avoid consequences. Beyond allowing pets, you’ll also want to check to see if the policy requires you to pay a monthly pet fee or a pet deposit. On the flip side, if you have severe allergies or concerns about noise, you may want to consider a pet-free apartment. 

Do you have a comfortable space for your lifestyle? If you work from home, for example, is there a comfortable place for you to work? Will you have space to host guests comfortably, if that’s something you want to do? If you’re considering renting from a large apartment complex, is there common space there that you can use or rent out for events to make up for a lack of space in your apartment?

Have you checked if your furniture will fit? To avoid a sudden large expense in the short term, make sure you measure to check if your existing furniture will fit both in the space and through the doors — especially if you’re looking at a very old apartment, your doorways and stairwells might be smaller than the standard size. 

As with many big decisions, you’ll have to part ways with a couple of your preferences. No apartment will be perfect, but you can find a place that’s a fantastic fit for you. The best way to do that is to take control of your search, and be thorough and upfront with potential landlords about your needs before you sign a lease agreement. The last thing you want to do is move out not long after you move in because an apartment didn’t meet your needs or expectations.