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Questions to ask when looking at an apartment?

Previously I thought I would get a condo but with condo fees, insurance, having to pay for repairs, and a down payment I just don't think I can comfortably pay for that. I will probably rent for at least a year, while looking at apartments, what questions should I ask? Is there a website that will tell me the ratings like if they actually fix peoples issues that need repaired I definitely don't want to be stuck with a broken toilet or anything.

Public Comments

1. When looking for an apartment , find out first what the hydro bill will be.. Call Hydro, whatever. make sure you get the apartment in good condition with all the repairer's done, including the cleaning. Painting... Make sure you have good neighbors, and not the noisy, troublesome ones. Check everything.. Pay checks in advance . so landlord does not bother you. Check door locks, and window sealing, and be sure you can lock your window's. Would be a good thing if they had a janitor to clean the hallways as well. may sure its kept cleaned. Pets or no pets.
2. Real estate is always local. You have to check out the rentals personally and physically. Talk to neighbors, be present when the school bus picks up or drops off the children, go to the police station and ask about crime activity in that area. Visit the groceries and other stores, observe the streets for trash and abandoned cars etc. The bottom line is you will need to spend some time looking and investigating. Even then you have to be careful about what you rent. Is the roof dry? Is there a problem with pests? Do the appliances work? Did you turn on the burners and the oven? Is the frig cold? Does the A/C and the heat work? Make a list and check through it. Cheap can be cheap because it is small so an efficiency is less expensive than a one bedroom. But it can also be cheap because it is not kept up, the neighbors are noisy, there are crime problems, transportation is unreliable etc. etc.