Question # 4 : Must you sign a one year lease or is there just a month-to-month oral agreement?

This is an important question to ask in case you are not sure whether you will be living in the apartment for a full year. If something comes up and you end up moving to a different city before the year is up, you could always sublet the apartment to another person. Consider whether you want the hassle of dealing with this, especially if you have already moved to your new location and the tenant who is subletting is causing you problems or not paying the rent.

There may be other reasons why you would rather have the terms and conditions for renting the apartment formally written out for you in a lease. The lease could address such things as whether pets are allowed in the apartment and whether you can paint the apartment or make any changes to the inside of the apartment.

Question #5 : Does the landlord live on site?

If the landlord does not live in your building, does he live nearby or at least in the same city or county? Consider how hard or easy it will be to contact the landlord if you have a problem that needs attention. Will you have an emergency number you can call on the weekends or in the evenings?

Question #6 : Where will you park your car if you have one?

• Is there off-street parking? If you live in an area with snowy winters, you will need somewhere to put your car during the time periods when the municipal snowplows are out plowing and are requiring that your street be removed of cars so that plowing can be done.
• Is a garage available for your car? Again, if you live in a climate with much snow in the winter, do you mind giving yourself the extra time required each day to scrape the ice and snow off your car?

Question #7 : Who will be moving your furniture and belongings into the apartment?

Consider how hard or easy it will be to move into the apartment. Will you be using professional movers or just a couple of friends to help you move?

Will it be just you and another friend who will be transporting all your possessions into the apartment? If you are moving into a 3rd floor apartment, will you two be able to carry the heavy furniture and boxes up there? If moving into a 3rd floor apartment in an older home, there may be a tight and narrow staircase leading upstairs with some sharp right angle turns needed to get up to the third floor.

Question #8 : Do you like the atmosphere of the apartment?

• Do you like the layout of the rooms?
• Do you like the amount of windows in the apartment allowing for natural light to come in?
• Do you like the view out of your front or back windows? Do you look out at a dumpster in a parking lot? Does the view matter to you at all?

Question #9 : Is there any additional storage space outside the apartment for your belongings?

Some apartments offer a storage locker in the basement of the apartment or a shed outside in the backyard area where you can store your additional items. Consider whether you have too much stuff to fit in the apartment and will need additional storage space -- perhaps to store seasonal items or things that you don't often use.

Another option is to rent a storage garage located at a self storage company's site. This involves a monthly storage fee. The dollar amount to store your stuff for a year in one of these garages can end up being as much as or more than an entire month's rent.