Apartment tours are an exciting and necessary step in your apartment search. You wouldn’t buy a car without taking a long, hard look at its interior (and exterior), so give your apartment tour the same scrutiny.
You’ve narrowed it down to your top choices and are ready to see the units and apartment communities in person. No more online searching and scrolling through images and reviews- now it’s time to see your potential new home in person.
Many renters aren’t sure how to get this process started. First, you need to schedule an apartment tour.
How to Schedule an Apartment Tour Using Apartments.com
Apartments.com offers an integrated tour scheduling system to make touring the apartment community you’re interested in just a few steps away.
To schedule a tour using Apartments.com, navigate to the listing you’re interested in and select the green “Schedule Tour” button. After selecting this button, a pop-up appears where you can choose either an in-person tour with a leasing agent or a video tour led by the leasing agent.
After choosing your preferred tour type, you can choose the day you want to tour the apartment. Apartments.com allows renters to schedule a tour for up to one month out, making apartment touring easy to fit into a busy schedule. After selecting your preferred date, choose a time that works for you. Apartments.com only shows available dates and times for scheduled tours, helping you avoid sudden cancellations or scheduling problems.
After entering your preferred day and time, Apartments.com asks for your first and last name, phone number, email address, and an optional message. If you’re interested in a certain unit or have a specific move-in date, the “Add Message” option is the perfect place to share those details.
All that’s left to do is select the “Schedule Tour” button. Apartments.com makes scheduling apartment tours easy by allowing renters to schedule a tour directly from a listing rather than calling and leaving messages with the leasing office.
Questions to Ask When Touring Apartments
Your basic questions were answered when you saw photos of the property online or called the community to schedule a tour. Now that it’s time to visit the property, come prepared with any questions about the unit, apartment community, policies, amenities, and more. To help you stay organized, consider asking about:
- The length of the lease.
- Their subletting policy.
- Any additional fees or deposits (other than the application fee and security deposit).
- If you have a pet, ask about the pet policy.
- If utilities are included. And if so, which ones?
- How to file maintenance requests.
- If the apartment is pet friendly. And if so, are there additional deposits, fees, etc.?
- Parking—is it limited, assigned, or a free-for-all?
- Storage unit availability (for bikes, extra furniture, etc.).
- Renters’ insurance.
- A guest policy.
- Location of the mailbox and the leasing office’s policy on receiving/holding packages.
- Any special discounts or move-in offers.
Try not to bombard the apartment tour guide with questions, but don’t be afraid to get your questions answered either. Choosing a new apartment is a big decision, and having clear answers can help you feel confident before signing a lease.
What to Look for During an Apartment Tour
Apartment inspections are typically reserved for move-in and move-out, but you can treat your apartment tour like a personal inspection. This isn’t an official inspection for apartment management- it’s an opportunity to determine whether the apartment is the right fit for you.
Too often, renters get caught up in looking at the model unit that is usually shown during apartment viewing. The model apartment may look picture-perfect with stylish décor and carefully arranged furniture, but it isn’t always representative of the home you’ll rent. Whenever possible, ask to see the actual unit you’re interested in renting.
Just because the model unit is perfect doesn’t mean your unit will be. Unless the apartment building is still under construction or being renovated, you should be able to see the specific apartment you’re considering.
Once you’re in the actual unit, it’s time to get down to business. You don’t need to be overly obsessive about the inspection, but don’t hesitate to poke around to see what works and what doesn’t.
There are obvious things to look out for, such as worn carpet, marks on the walls, broken blinds, and damaged doors or molding. However, even if everything appears clean and well maintained, there could still be issues below the surface.
When you’re touring the apartment, here are a few things to look out for:
- Any sign of pests—rodents, roaches, ants, etc.
- Safe and functional electrical outlets.
- A safe and functional circuit breaker box—you’ll want to know where this is located, especially when your blow-dryer trips the breaker and goes out mid-blowout.
- Functioning smoke detectors.
- A fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink.
- Properly installed light fixtures and ceiling fans.
- A working thermostat. You don’t want to move in without AC during the summer or heat during the winter—make sure the room feels the same temperature to which the thermostat is set.
- A working stove and oven.
- A working refrigerator, freezer, and functional kitchen cabinets and drawers.
- Leaky faucets (or pipes under the sink). There’s nothing worse than storing your clean towels under the bathroom sink after moving in, just to find them covered in residue from leaky pipes the next day.
- Phone connectivity.
- Functioning toilets. Flush each one to be sure.
- A working shower/tub without leaks and proper drainage.
- Perfectly working locks for all doors and windows.
Take Note of any Potential Issues Before Moving into an Apartment
After you’ve made observations of any issues (things that would keep you from happily moving into the apartment as-is), it’s time to share your list with the tour guide. Don’t be afraid to express any concerns you have about the condition of the apartment. If you go ahead and tell them what needs to be fixed before you consider moving in, it’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about after you’ve settled into your apartment.
When you receive your official move-in inspection sheet upon move-in, you’ll spend less time documenting existing issues and less time waiting for maintenance requests during your first few weeks. It also helps to document pre-existing damages you don’t want to be charged for when you move out, such as nail polish on the bathroom floor, a stain on the carpet, etc.
The apartment inspection process during your tour and move-in are key times to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. That way, you can spend more time enjoying your new home.
Schedule an Apartment Tour on Apartments.com
Whether you’re looking to take an in-person or a self-guided tour of your desired unit, Apartments.com makes it easy to schedule an apartment tour. Navigate to the listing you want to tour, select the “Schedule Tour” button, and follow the prompts. Apartments.com helps take the hassle and stress out of your apartment search.
This article was originally published on November 9, 2018 and has been updated.
FAQs
How do I schedule an apartment tour?
To schedule an apartment tour, visit Apartments.com and select the "Schedule Tour" button on the listing. Choose your preferred tour type (in-person or virtual), then select an available date and time and provide contact information, along with any additional questions you have.
What should I ask when touring a new apartment?
When touring a new apartment, ask about the lease length, monthly fees, security deposit, utilities, parking, pet policies, maintenance procedures, guest rules, renters insurance, and any available move-in specials. You should also confirm whether the unit you are viewing is the actual apartment you would rent.
What should I look for during an apartment tour?
During an apartment tour, check the condition of the floors, walls, doors, windows, appliances, plumbing, electrical outlets, smoke detectors, locks, heating, and air conditioning. Look for signs of pests, leaks, water damage, mold, or poor maintenance.
