A guide to making the best use of an apartment locater service

I don't know anyone that enjoys moving, but we all do, from time to time. When you're searching for an apartment, you want to find one in which you'll be happy for a long time. Sometimes, the search can overwhelm you. After you've looked at dozens without finding the right place, it's easy to start making compromises that you're really not prepared to find acceptable, once the shine of your new apartment wears off. If you're charmed by that quaint third floor Victorian apartment with a working fireplace and simply snap it up, you may find yourself in an untenable situation in a few short months.

Apartment locater services can be a great help in narrowing down your choices and finding an apartment that suits your needs for at least a few years. However, you've got to keep in mind that the apartment locater service is in business to make money. They want to find you an apartment in the shortest amount of time and conclude the transaction. For your part, knowing the questions to ask before you start running all over town on leads that don't work out is the key to a shorter search and a happy situation.

The apartment locater service usually has you fill out a brief questionnaire, describing features you'd like to have, as well as space requirements. However, they don't usually cover all of the issues that may be important concerns for you.

Look over our list of issues you may find important and which may not be covered in your initial interview with the apartment locater service.

1.Are you looking for a month-to-month situation, or do you prefer a lease? There are advantages to each. A monthly rental leaves you open to an unexpected rise in rent on 30 days notice. On the other hand, you're not locked into staying there should your circumstances change. A lease means the rent will not go up during the lease period, but you're legally obliged to fulfill the lease.

2.Utility costs can be substantial. If some or all of the utilities are included, this may mean you can pay more in rent. If not, be sure you can afford the rent and utility costs. The apartment locater service should be able to give you a ballpark estimate of what the utilities run.

3.If you need all of the major appliances to be provided, such as the stove, oven and frig, make this clear at the outset. If you want on-site laundry facilities, spell this out as well.

4.Before the apartment locater service sends you out to look at an apartment, find out about security deposits and cleaning fees. These can sometimes be more than you're able to pay as an up front cost. Cleaning fees are usually non-refundable.

5.If you have a pet, don't try to hide this – many people do – thinking that no one will notice your tiny little kitty. While pets narrow your choices, why waste your time on looking at an apartment which doesn't accept pets? If the owner does accept pets, make sure you find out if they charge an additional amount in rent for the privilege.

6.Here's an issue the apartment locater services rarely address, but can become a big problem unless you bring it to their attention. Can you paint a room that's 'apartment white' another color without permission? Find out.

7.Is a ground floor apartment suitable for your needs? This might be a security issue for you, so if that's the case, weed those out of the apartment locater service's picks, up front.

Once you've got these issues clarified, you're ready to go looking. When you look the apartment candidate over, check such things as parking, outside lighting and general security. Closet and storage space can become an issue quickly, so don't fool yourself into thinking you can get by with a single hall closet and a tiny bedroom closet.

When you do find an apartment that fulfills your needs, go over the rental or lease agreement carefully. If all is fine, sign on the dotted line and prepare to move. Using these pointers, you'll get the best use of your apartment locater service!