Chronicle staffers offer tips for apartment hunting

When apartment hunting, it’s easy to get bogged down in confusing leases and too many options. And for many, this is the first apartment you’ll be renting. To ease the stress, The Chronicle has compiled a list of tips to help you through the apartment-hunting process.

• Stick to your budget. Determine how much you can realistically afford to spend and don’t deviate from it.
• Get an estimate from the complex before you visit. Find out if an apartment is affordable before you visit so you don’t get swept up in a home’s appealing features just to find out it is out of your price range.
• Count your deposits. Keep track of the different deposits you will need to make for additional expenses like utilities and insurance to make sure they don’t push you over budget.
• Look presentable to the landlord. Dress nicely and bring confidence to your first meeting; have a list of questions ready. First impressions mean a lot.
• Get everything in writing. This goes for your landlords and your roommates. Know exactly what you’re signing up for to avoid unwelcome surprises later.
• Choose roommates wisely. Living off campus brings a whole new set of responsibilities like paying bills, buying groceries and cleaning the bathroom. You want to live with someone who is dependable and doesn’t mind sharing the load.
• Purchase renters insurance. Make sure your belongings are covered in case of an emergency.
• Inspect the apartment before you rent and after you move in. Make a note of any problems there when you move in so they can be addressed right away, and you can’t be charged for them later.
• Meet the neighbors. Get to know the people you’ll be living near, so you have someone to keep an eye on things when you’re away or help if you get locked out. Also, ask how they feel about noise at night or on the weekends. You should always be respectful, but some neighbors are more sensitive than others.
• Don’t forget about parking. Make sure you won’t be forced to park three blocks away. If you don’t have a car, live closer to campus. Maybe look for a roommate who has a car so you can steal a ride to and from campus if it’s pouring rain or late at night.
• Check the little things before you move in. Find out where you can do laundry, make sure there are plenty of outlets, and find out about cell service and internet connection. It’s easy to fall in love with an apartment’s look or low price, but you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.