You may have an idea of what you are looking for, but there may be a few things you are overlooking. The following will go over a few things you should find out before you sign your new lease.

Property Manager

One thing that is often overlooked is the possible property manager's disposition and diligence, which are important since you are going to be depending on him or her for comfortable living. Chances are you will be talking to the property manager, and you should pay attention to some of the following:

• Does he or she answer or return calls promptly?
• Would you feel comfortable discussing issues with him or her?
• Does the manager respond honestly regarding any concerns that have?

Age of Appliances

You should find out how old the appliances are in your potential apartment; this might prevent an issue from popping up. This also gives the landlord an opportunity to highlight any new renovations.

Consider the following:

The Age Of Appliances

• Refrigerator: This appliance usually last 13 years before issues arise.
• Washer: Should last about 10 years.
• Dryer: Usually last about 13 years.
• Garbage Disposal: May last approximately 12 years.
• Stove: A stove could last 15 good years.
• Dishwasher: This appliance should last 9 years.
• Microwave: Expect about 9 years of good use.

Remember that these are general numbers, and the appliance used in your apartment could have a different lifespan; so ask your community representative about the appliances in the apartment. You can also ask if they had to do a lot of repairs on the appliances, which could give you a clue on their condition.

The Neighbors

This might be helpful but a little uncomfortable if you are not too social. But you should consider casually standing by the apartment building to see if you can talk to one or more of the people who live there. Just be honest about your intentions of moving into the building and that you would like to get their opinion about the community. 

You can ask questions like:

• Have you seen any recurring issues like pests or maintenance issues?
• Are emergencies taken care of quickly?

Or you can ask any other question; just make sure you are direct because you do not want to take up too much of your potential neighbor's time. As you can see, finding the right apartment for your family is more than just finding one that you like, and hopefully this guide helps you. Click here for more information on two bedroom apts.