Apartment

1
Apartment

• How to find an apartment

2
Home Sweet Home

• Do you need to rent an apartment?
• If yes, read the next pages to make the job
  easier.
• Print out a checklist located in these lessons,
  and bring it with you when looking for an
  apartment.

3
Finding an Apartment

• Look in the newspaper (classified ads)
• Check local bulletin boards (Information located
  in grocery stores, or churches.)
• Real Estate Agents
• Ask your friends

4
What is the best place?

• How do you know the best place to live?
• A check list of needs is necessary when looking
  for an apartment .
• Is it close to your place of employment?
• Is the neighborhood safe?
• Is it close to a good school system?
• Is it close to your church?
• Is it close to stores, banks and the post office?
• Is it close to public transportation?
• What are the parking regulations (if you own a
  car)?
• Can I afford the apartment?
• Click here to see and print an Apartment Check
  List

Click here
5
How much can I pay?

• An idea is to only pay 25 of your gross income.
  
• Example If you earn 30,000 per year, or 2,500
  per month, you shouldn't spend more than 625 per
  month on rent.
• The big apartment may look good, but you still
  have to pay for food, gas, electric, car and
  apartment insurance.

6
I found an apartment now what?

• Before you sign a lease ( a legal document for
  renters), keep these thoughts in mind
• Check the apartment for physical damage or safety
  problems. Take pictures if necessary.
• Insist that any problems be corrected before you
  move into the apartment.
• Make sure any repairs or improvements to be made
  are recorded in the lease.
• A careless landlord (the person who owns the
  apartment building) may be a sign that the
  apartment is not for you.

7
Items to Check Before You Rent

• Smoke detectors
• Mailboxes
• Appliances Stove, refrigerator, washer/dryer,
  microwave oven, light fixtures
• Outdoor lighting
• Locks on doors, windows and sliding glass doors
• Emergency exit signs in hallways
• Fire extinguishers in hallways
• Lead, radon hazards
• Sinks, toilets
• Insects NO ants, NO cockroaches

8
You are ready for the Apartment!!

• You want the apartment and can afford it sign
  the lease. A lease is a legally binding agreement
  between a landlord and tenant (the person who
  rents).
• A lease must contain your name, the landlord's
  name, the address of the apartment, the amount of
  rent and the payment schedule.
• READ the lease CAREFULLY!!

9
Do I need insurance?
Click Here

• Renters insurance is a good idea. It protects
  you and others. It protects against
• Damage to personal property from fire or wind
• Theft
• Personal liability in the event you are sued over
  accidental injury to others who are in your
  apartment
• Accidental damage to property of others in your
  care
• Living expenses if you are forced to live
  elsewhere while your apartment is being repaired

10
Apartment Words

• Apartments are listed in newspapers, ads and with
  real estate agents. The apartments are described
  by using the abbreviations (letters or short
  words that mean a longer word.)
• Click here to learn about apartment abbreviations.