Why should I only use one locator service?
Why is your service Free? What's the catch?
How do I make sure you get paid by the property?
How can I tell what's available for my time frame and if there's any lease specials?
Why are deposits so low?
What does it take for my application to get "approved" and how long will it take?
Can I get "Pre-approved" for all the properties or must I wait and put in my application?
What lease terms are available?
What if I need a shorter term rental than 6 mo.?
What are standard pet deposits and restrictions?
What if I need a furnished Apartment?
What utilities will I have to pay for and how much will it cost?
What appliances come standard in the Apartments and Homes?
- All the locating services have access to the same information. Consequently, when you use more than one locator, you'll likely end up with some of the same properties being referred by both locators and you'll be forced to choose which one of them gets the credit. This will only cause more problems for you.
- There is no catch! Our fees are paid by the landlord or the apartment community you lease at. Our fees come from the advertising budgets and DO NOT affect your rent. You are also entitled to all the same lease specials. In fact, we make sure that all our customers are aware of any lease specials that are available which the properties often don't tell you about if you just stop by...they consider them "closing tools" and don't mention them unless they have to.
- For us to get paid for our services, all you need to do is list your agent and our company as the referral source at the property you lease. There is usually a spot on the application to do this. Remember, when you put our name down, you are signing our check so don't forget about us! Also you'll need to contact your agent and tell him or her where you leased so he can follow up with the property. That's it! You're happy. We're happy.
- First of all be sure to tell the leasing agents when you visit the property you are working with Apartments, Etc. and make sure they write it down on the guest card.
- Secondly, and most importantly, there is a spot on the rental application that says "how did you hear about us" or how were you referred? In that spot be sure to write Apartments Etc. (Please, do not write "Internet" or "stopped by" or anything else). If you remember your agent's name write it in as well.
- Lastly, please call us or e-mail us and let us know where you put in your application. You don't have to wait until you're approved.
- It's just that easy and don't forget to stop by the office and pick up your FREE MOVE IN GIFT.
- That's what we're here for! We can check availability for you so you don't waste time or gas. We also ask every single community if they have any lease specials or discounts for you. We also find out everything we can about the available units (location, floor, view, carpet color, etc.)
- Most communities and landlords in this area require 30-day notices. Often they need 5-10 days to make it ready for the next tenant and they will usually hold a vacant unit 2-3 weeks after it is ready. So, we can usually only find out what will be available from now to 45 days from now. We can check availability for you within that time frame but we can not check availability over 45 days.
- As a rule, we like to check availability as close to the time you are going out looking as possible. We hate to give you information on a unit that is available only to have it leased before you get there. Therefore, we like to get you information to review as soon as possible but please let us know when you can go out to look and we will check availability the day or two before you go out looking.
- New construction is a whole different story. You can lease a unit on a new property several months in advance if the unit is not scheduled for completion until then. Of course you will not be able to see the actual unit beforehand.
- Deposits for Apartments are usually $99-400. That is substantially lower than other markets.
- Deposits are usually non-negotiable.
- Homes and other private listings usually require 1 months rent as security deposit. This is NOT your last month's rent and if you leave without paying that last month, they could go to court and you could have an "eviction" on your record even after you've left. These deposits are almost never negotiable.
- Apartment communities charge $25-40/person to process an application. They don't make any money on this, it is usually forwarded to the screening company.
- They will verify your employment, rental history, salary, and check your credit. Most require that your monthly salary be at least 3 times the monthly rental amount. In some cases properties may ask for two and a half times your monthly rent in income.
- Most applications can be processed in 1-2 days. The biggest holdup is usually verifying your employment history and criminal background. Be sure that when you apply you have all the information (phone numbers, addresses, etc) on former landlords and numbers that they can use to verify your employment and salary. Pay stubs or "Company offer letters" are good ways to speed up your application.
- Most communities use a scoring system and have differing degrees of strictness. Here are some basic guidelines though:
- If you've broken a lease or have an eviction most properties will deny your application. The best thing you can do for yourself is to make payment arrangements with that particular community before it goes to collections. There are a few properties that may overlook evictions. Credit is one of the least restrictive of the criteria. Basically most properties are content with you having 70% Good credit (7 out of ten items on your credit report must be good). Bankruptcies over 2 years old usually aren't a problem. Most want you to have been on your current job for 6 mo or so. Don't worry if you are newly hired in the same field as you were before or you are just graduated, that's not a problem as long as your school/working has been more or less continuous.
- A lot of places will work with you if you have credit/employment issues with some type of extra deposit. Ask your locator which ones will work with you. You're not the only one whose been through a divorce, breakup, job loss, bad roommate situation, etc. They have heard all the stories and they'll listen.
- If you have any questions about acceptability guidelines for certain properties, ask your locator.
- There are always exceptions so please don't be afraid to contact a consoler for more detailed information.
- Unfortunately not. Right now since the approval criteria varies so much and different companies use their own application, there is not a standard one time application.
- 6-12 month leases are the standard.
- Some apartment communities offer a 3-month lease but it will cost you $50-250/month extra per month. You can go month to month after the 3 mo. is up. No rent concessions will be offered on short term leases.
- Month-to-month lease terms are often very tough to find unless you are interested in "Corporate Apartments". Corporate apartments are fully furnished and include utilities, cable and local phone service and house wares. They are also fairly expensive: one bedrooms are $1200-2000, two bedrooms $1700-2500, and three bedrooms are $1900-3000/month, if available.
- If you are looking for a pretty short term lease (less than 3 mo). it is usually best to go to a "suites" type hotel. You can get a basic one bedroom with utilities included and furniture for 700-1000 per mo.
- However, a few properties offer a "Buy-out" clause on their lease which means that you can leave any time before your lease term is up as long as you give 30 day notice and pay a "re-letting" fee (usually 85%) of one month's rent. This is a good plan for people who think they might be there for 6 months but aren't sure (e.g., home buyers, project consultants). That way you don't end up paying the additional money per month for a 3-month lease only to stay there 6 mos.
- You are not "breaking" your lease when you exercise the early termination clause since you are fulfilling the agreement in your lease for that provision. Ask your locator which properties have this "buy-out" clause.
- Pet Deposits vary depending on the size and type of breed. Almost all of the communities accept small dogs or cats under 20lbs with a $300 average deposit. On our reports you will usually see "n/r" which means the "non-refundable portion" of the deposit. That can be anywhere from 50 dollars up to 50% of the deposit, though some places even charge a "pet fee' which means the entire deposit is non-refundable. A few places also charge "pet rent" of $10-25/month. Ask your locator which way you'll be better off.
- Deposits for Dogs over 30lbs range from $300-500. Expect at least one half of this fee to be non-refundable. Only a few apartment communities will accept large dogs and many have restrictions on aggressive breeds (e.g., Rottweilers, pit bulls, staffordshire terriers, wolf hybrids, chows, dobermans)
- From time to time you can "pay out" the pet deposit in installments. Your locator can find out which properties will let you do this.
- The pet weight restrictions are "guidelines" and not set in stone. Some properties will require proof of weight and current vaccinations.
- All properties will charge a pet deposit for each pet. Most places have a maximum allowance of 2 pets.
- The Bottom line is things can get pretty confusing when dealing with pet restrictions and deposits so ask your locators which properties will take your pet(s) and which ones have the best deal on the pet deposits.
- Private listings tend to be more restrictive of pets in general.
- As a rule. the apartment communities are not furnished. You can do a "corporate apartment" but as we mentioned above that can get expensive. The other way is to rent furniture. You can get furniture packages from a local rental company.. If you need "the works" (linens, silverware, dishes etc) as well as furniture you can usually get that as well. We can get you the information on various services. See our Resource Center for more info.
- The furniture companies will come out and move the furniture and furnishings in for you and set them up. There is typically a one time delivery and set up charge.
- You will normally have to pay gas, electric, water, sewer and trash. At some properties you might just have to pay gas and electric.
- A handful of places will offer basic cable as a special incentive. Basic cable costs about 30-35 dollars per mo.
- There are very few "All Bills Paid" properties and they tend to be the much older properties (Over 25 years old).
- The properties will all help you set up your utilities when you lease, either by giving you the toll-free numbers to call or notifying the utility companies when you lease and getting them to send the bills to your new address. If you'd like you can contact the major utilities via our Resource Center. Most of the time the unit will have electricity already (they just need to change over to billing to you) and phone can be set up within a day or two.
- Almost all of the Apartments will come with a dishwasher, electric stoves and refrigerator.
- Some of them have a washer and dryer already provided, some others have the washer/dryer connections, and some communities provide on site laundry facilities. If they have just the connections, you can usually rent a washer & dryer from the community for an additional 40-45 dollars per mo. for both.
- Newer apartment communities typically have built-in microwaves.
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