It’s this time of year again when the search for off-campus housing is at its peak. All the new blood (freshmen) and old blood (sophomores and the 2% chance of Juniors/Seniors) are rushing, looking to grab leases of cheap and close-to-campus apartments with their friends. Everyone is scanning Zillow, Apartments.com, and Facebook Marketplace, looking for places in their budget. Now, it’s understandable that everyone is trying to get housing quickly since finals are in less than three weeks, but it is necessary for people to be very careful about their housing search. Here in this article, I’ll give y’all five tips to have in mind during your search.
TIP 1: DO NOT PAY YOUR DEPOSIT WITHOUT SEEING THE PLACE
This warning concerns Facebook marketplace in particular, where some posters will tell prospective buyers to pay a deposit of $50 or higher to reserve the apartment. That’s a scam. Never pay any deposits for places you have not seen, as there is no such thing as reserving an apartment or a house you haven’t seen. All reputable management companies or landlords require a visit to the apartment before applying. Also, deposits are paid when you have signed the lease, never before the lease.
TIP 2: RESEARCH YOUR MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND LANDLORDS
Make sure to properly research all information on the management companies of the properties you want to move into. Some management companies have extensive reviews made by previous renters. Reddit, Yelp, and Google are the best places to start. R/Berkeley, in particular, has a lot of helpful information about the history of many management companies and the companies/places that are safe/unsafe to live in. It is largely unknown, but Berkeley has some dark skeletons in their closet in regard to housing (such as child trafficking), so research is absolutely necessary.
TIP 3: APARTMENT VIEWING? THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Insects, look out for insects. Yes, I know many people do not look out for this in apartment tours but trust me, a good search in the corners, baseboards, behind the sink, and other nooks and crannies for any bug shells and droppings will save your life. The apartment may have a building-wide infestation which you will have to deal with on your own once you move in. If it’s insects like bed bugs or cockroaches, that are extremely hard to get rid of, just save yourself the mental torture and search. Also, make sure to test the water currents and outlets to ensure they work. Take a look at the temperature and space of the fridge, and the size of the cupboards and closets.
TIP 4: READ THE LEASE THOROUGHLY; SERIOUSLY, READ EVERY. SINGLE. LINE. (MOST IMPORTANT)
Read through every nook and cranny of the lease you are sent. Oftentimes, landlords and management companies hide nasty surprises between normal clauses, so people often overlook them. Though you should read every clause over at least twice, pay close attention to the deposits, bed bug and insect section, damages, and plumbing section. Make sure that your deposit will be returned to you, and look to see if there are any lines stating that the landlord/management company can keep your deposit. Ensure that in the bedbug and insect section, the lease does not charge you for any infestations. Remember, insect infestations are the landlord’s problem in California, and it’s not the responsibility of the tenant to pay. Check to see if there are any clauses that make you responsible for normal wear or tear of the apartment. Also, make sure that plumbing problems and clogged drains are not payable by you, like with insects, it’s the landlord’s responsibility. Finally, if the contract states that if you don’t report a problem in a timely manner you are responsible for paying for the problem, try to get them to put a certain period of time, like five days to one week, in the contract to make the reporting time less ambiguous. If that’s not possible, keep it in mind to always record everything wrong with your apartment on video or pictures as evidence.
Tip 5: Try to get your keys early before you move in, and deep clean
Try to get your keys early before you move in, and deep clean. Soak the bathtub, soak the sink, and scrub them down. Vacuum the entire apartment, then mop all the floors. Trust me, even if you do not see any dirt, there is dirt. Chase out common insects (insects that inhabit apartments after long disuse) like spiders. Then try to get the apartment fumigated. The best chance to fumigate your apartment is when you and your roommates aren’t there, so there are no unnecessary surprises. Also, move stuff little by little, then on the move-in day move in the big guns like beds and bedframes so that you and your roomies can relax, knowing that you don’t have to do too much work.