If you're looking for an apartment, especially if it's in a city or neighborhood you don't know, there are some plain-as-day signs to help you see the building and street for its true nature. It may be cheap, but that savings will evaporate if your car is broken into or you can't sleep due to druggy neighbors.1 – If you come by during the day, the parking lot should be mostly empty. If it's full, it means nobody has jobs, and you're looking at a no-income building.
2 – Are there obviously dead cars in the parking lot, as indicated by a thick sheen of pollen or leaves?
3 – Look for junk on the balconies. If it's there, the landlord doesn't care about the place.
4 – Are the grounds and common areas maintained?
5 – If the carpets are still wet from shampoo, but also significantly stained, this isn't the sort of property that takes maintenance and upkeep very seriously.
6 – If they also offer month-to-month rental, it means you're likely to find a lot of short-timers, and that's usually a bad sign.
7 – If any portion of the property is run as a hotel, it's a very questionable sign.
8 – Ask how long people have lived there. If there are 5-10 year tenants, that's a good sign, unless they're scary people. Don't be afraid to ask.
If you can find somebody's condo to rent, that's usually the best, but don't pay extra for it, and expect neighbors a tad nosier than in an apartment. Otherwise, just keep your eyes wide open while making a decision.
