Equal Housing Opportunity
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One of the most important issues surrounding renting a new apartment is the matter of the apt rent. What distinguishes owning your own home from living in a rented apartment is having to pay that apt rent every month, and there are a number of factors to take into consideration when dealing with rent on a new apartment.
The first thing you need to do before looking for a new apartment is determine how much apt rent you can afford each month. Sit down and budget your finances so that you know how much money is available for rent. Try to come up with a solid range, where at one extreme you could find the right cheap apartment and save a bit of extra money each month, and at the other you could make a few cutbacks in your monthly expenses in order to secure a really great apartment. The typical rule of thumb is to expect to pay about a third of your monthly take home income in rent.
If you've found a place you like but the rent is still a bit high, don't give up just yet. An apt rent is not etched in stone, and many rents are negotiable, especially in this economy. Ask the rental agent if there's any flexibility in the rent. If the building is owned by a large, faceless corporation, you may be out of luck, but if you can talk to the owner face to face and convince them that you would be a good, dependable, long-term renter, he or she might be more inclined to reduce the rent amount slightly or perhaps give you a break on the first six months. Or, if they cannot lower the rent, they may be able to help in other ways such as reducing the deposit amount, or amending the lease to allow pets, for example.
These days, there are some motivated landlords out there. These landlords want every unit in their buildings filled up as soon as possible. Every month that goes by without a tenant costs them money. Therefore, some landlords may offer some very lucrative move-in deals, such as a month of free rent or even a reduction in the regular monthly apt rent if you move in right away. Before settling on an apartment to rent, take a look and see if any of these deals are available in your area. You could end up with considerable savings.
Some home owners or apartment owners that live in their units are looking to get out of town for the summer. Other landlords may experience a number of renters leaving in the summer when their leases expire and the renters no longer need to be in the city. Either way, it may mean that the summer is the best time for you to look for a new apartment if you're trying to save on apt rent. Keep an eye out for move-in special deals during the summer in order to save even more money, whether you're just looking for a summer rental or looking for an apartment to rent all year round.
Where should you start your search for the apartment for you at the rent you can afford? These days, the smart apt hunters are starting out online. You can go to Rent.com and find an apartment finder that does the majority of the legwork for you. You just put in your price range and the size and type of apartment you're looking for, and Rent.com does the rest. They've got thousands of listings, and when they have apartments that meet your criteria, instantly send you detailed, illustrated information to help you make an informed decision about your next apartment. You can compare prices to see what market rents are for your type of apartment today, and use this information when you negotiate your rent. Once you have your budget and your plan of attack, use Rent.com to narrow down your apartment choices, then visit the top selections and see if you can negotiate for the rent that works for you.