Ahhhhhhhh real estate guy.

[letterblade]

Getting shown at least one apartment tomorrow.

This will be the, um, third apartment showing I've ever done in my life. First was in a neighborhood so freaky we'd already decided not to take the place; second was in a neighborhood we'd already fallen in love with, and we were pretty much pre-sold when we saw the size of it. And both times I was pretty much hiding behind Cyn. This one's solo.

So, er, any tips? Please with many thanks?

Crashing soon. (Well, must poke that fic first, 'cause I just saw Iron Man again and have things fresh in my brain.) <3 y'all.

Comments

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Trying to go back through my own mental checklist, here's the things I looked for...

Don't be embarrassed to be picky, ask lots of questions, and take your time.

Check the water pressure by turning on the shower. If you're still long-haired, you'll need lots to get the soap out.

Check storage space. Having places to put stuff is almost more important than places to put you.

Check windows for draft (or, better, look and see if they're double-paned). I can get by in an apartment with a broken heater and lousy insulation. You north folks can't.

Look for mold spots, especially in bathroom. Mold baaaaad.

What are laundry options?

What appliances does it come with? Are they functional? Or will you come to hate them?

Any sort of yard/patio/outside area?

STORAGE SPACE.

If you drive, what sort of parking options are there? And where will friends park who come to visit you?

This being Boston (?), where's the nearest T or bus stop?

What's the nearest grocery store? Other stores/food sources?

Cigarette smells? :(

Consider how much you want LIGHT. I just bought a place largely because my current apartment is a cave, and I wanted more light.

Look for signs of things in good repair or NOT good repair, inside and outside the apartment. Landlords make or break a rental.

You won't be there long enough to be sure, but listen for thumps, voices from next apartment over, noises outside. How much noise factor is there?

Traffic flow isn't a make-or-break, but it's something to keep in mind. Do closet doors open so that you have to duck around them? If there's a dishwasher, does its door open and block you into the kitchenlet area? Will you be able to put bookshelves in hallways or on walls, or will that make it too tight? Are there a lot of getting-from-this-part-to-that areas, or is space maximized so it's all "livable" area?