TRUE LIFE: I've relocated now I need to find a place

The Alumni ROW - How to Relocate and Survive Series?

Article 3

If you are looking at this article you either relocated already and are in desperate need of a new place, you are planning to relocate pretty soon, or you just like our articles =).  Whatever your reasons, here are some tips that I have after moving to Sacramento, staying in a hotel for a week and finding my first place.  

DISCLAIMER:  These are tips that worked for me.  I believe they will work for anyone but I am not guaranteeing that they will. So try them out and let me know what you think.  =)

Source

DAY ONE & DAY TWO:  PERSONAL PREP TIME 

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Tip One:  Set a range budget & a limit

Now I touched a little on this on our first post, so if you have not read that post you probably should click here.     Okay so prior to signing your lease, you need to determine:

• how much you want to pay for a place 
• and how much you can afford based on the value of apartments in your destination area.

This gives you the opportunity to cut down your search and weed out places in your target budget.  However, keep in mind that your budget needs to reflect the area that you plan to live in.  For instance, a small studio apartment (in okay condition) may cost you 1,000 to 1,200 in NYC or the Bay Area (Cali).  If you can afford to adjust your budget to get a nice place then this is the time to do so, or go the alternative routes (i.e. look for a roommate, move in the next city to reduce the cost, etc.).

Estimated Time:  1-2 days

Tip Two:  Create a Wants & Necessities (or wants & needs) List

Now I followed this mostly, but for this post I tweaked to make it legit, so tell me if this works for you.  But anyway, a Wants & Necessity List is an itemized list of things you want and need out of your place of residence.  To start, create a list of dream residence wants (washer/dryer, gated community, low rent, furnished, free microwave etc.).  This is NOT the time to be realistic.  

Once you have finished your dream list, mark 2-3 the items you have to have in order to rent or buy the place.  BE REALISTIC ON THIS PART.  For instance, if you cannot afford to rent from a place that provides a maid service and valet parking, then don't mark it down. These will be your necessities.  The other items on your list will be added bonuses or perks to help sway your decision.  Completing this list and taking it serious is going to really help you to narrow down your search between what you have to have, would like to have, and can do without.  

Estimated Time:  1 hr

DAY THREE & DAY FOUR:   ONLINE RESEARCH + PHONE INTERVIEW

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Tip Three: Research Online

Before choosing a location, I recommend doing online research first.  Online research will help you gain basic knowledge about the city/town you're in (population, diversity, average income, etc) as well as interesting facts about the town and the people.  Sacremento's diversity is one reason why I accepted a job there (it's a "melting pot").  I found basic facts about Sacramento on Wikipedia.org that were backed up by areavibes.com and various forums.  Prior to stepping foot in Sacramento County, I knew the population, diversity rates, crime rates, and the location in relation to other major cities and states.  
Estimated Time: .5 days

After your initial research is done, its time to choose a few locations you can see yourself moving to and look for apartments and/or homes nearby.  To do this I used apartment finders like rent.com and apartmentfinder.com.  If a place was in my price range and the ratings and comments section weren't too low I proceeded to the next step (defined in the next subtitle), otherwise, I continued to look for more places.

Tip Four:  Interview the Management via Phone

Prior to checking out the complex or home you are looking to buy, I recommend doing a phone interview first. During this phase make a call to the apartment complex or potential seller and ask general questions to confirm that information from your initial research is correct.  If the interview is successful and you believe you could live under the management then go ahead and set up a walk-through or tour of the apartment.  Do this for multiple apartments.

Estimated Time: 1.5 days

Tip Five:  Check out the neighborhood at night

Now this is the most important STEP!  Always check out the neighborhood that you want to lease from at night.  Why?  Well at night time you can examine if it's a quiet neighborhood or a neighborhood where there is a lot of partying, a neighborhood where people stay out late and socialize or a neighborhood where people stay to themselves.  This will ensure that you have no surprises down the road and can prevent choosing high crime neighborhoods.

Tip Six:  Take a tour

This step you cannot miss.  Before closing the deal check the model and the apartment that you will be living in out.  You want to do this b/c if you can't see yourself living in it then there is NO POINT!
Estimated Time:  30 min  - 1 hr

BONUS:  HAVE FUN!!!