When Ariana Jackier began searching for an apartment more than a year ago, she had her priorities straight. They were set, in part, by her lovable, full-grown golden retriever, Zach, and her playful cat, Tyson.
Jackier relocated to Chicago after finishing graduate school in Michigan. With pets as a non-negotiable part of the bargain, it was more difficult and time-consuming to find an apartment, she admits.
Fortunately, Jackier had allotted enough time for her search.
“I spent a year looking. I used the Internet, newspaper ads, and apartment-finding services,” she explained.
Taking advantage of these resources and others, such as simple word-of-mouth, are good ways to begin searching for an apartment that will suit your needs, the experts agree.
But the first step in developing an effective search strategy is to do exactly what Jackier did: set priorities.
“I knew I wanted to keep Zach,” she said. “I looked at some (not-so-nice) apartments that accepted dogs, but they were $1,000 a month. I wanted a nice apartment in a central area and I wanted to be safe.”
The Parkwest, 2470 N. Clark St, fits the bill for Jackier in most respects.
“Everything is right here (in the neighborhood) for you,” she said. “Grocery stores, the White Hen (Pantry), money machines, restaurants, stores and bars.”
Knowing what you can’t live without, whether it’s being a few minutes’ drive from your job or having a patio to indulge your green thumb, is the first step toward finding a place where you’ll live happily.
The second step is deciding how much you can afford.
“The rule of thumb (for housing costs) is (that you should spend) 25 to 30 percent of your income,” said Bernie Kleina, executive director of Hope Fair Housing, a non-profit organization in Wheaton that fights housing discrimination.
However, Kleina added that how much you spend on rent may vary according to how much debt you’re carrying. Sitting down and taking a realistic look at your financial picture is an important part of the apartment-finding process.
“Get your own (copy of) your credit report,” he said. “Know what’s on it. If there is a problem, be completely upfront about it (with a prospective) landlord.”
Although apartment-finding services may direct you to larger complexes, Kleina advises people not to overlook smaller buildings and two- or three-unit flats that are listed in the local newspapers or that may be found by talking to friends.
“Sometimes larger complexes are more expensive,” he said. “Often, the price is less at smaller buildings and the requirements (such as the security deposit or credit check) may be less (stringent).”
When you are figuring out what your monthly outlay for an apartment will be, don’t forget to include such incidental expenses as utilities, transportation and parking costs.
For example, the Parkwest charges fees for keeping pets. For a dog, the non-refundable fee is $200. A refundable security deposit, which can be as low as $99, depending on your credit, is also charged.
Taking these expenses into consideration will help you better plan a budget and help narrow your search to a particular suburb or neighborhood.
“Being close to something, be it a job or a school district can save money,” Kleina said.
Such a consideration was an important one for Tina Wallace and her husband, Bill. The couple have three children, ages 5, 4 and 2, and live in an apartment community that has a free preschool on the premises.
Recalling how they went about looking for an apartment, Tina said, “We looked through all the rental guides. And this one had an ad mentioning the free preschool. And it fit our budget.”
The complex where the Wallaces live is called Woodfield Gardens in Rolling Meadows.
Besides the unusual amenity of the preschool, which is operated by a local school district, a visit to the complex provided the Wallaces with further evidence that this would be a pleasant place for a family with lively, young children.
“There are things to keep the kids occupied,” Wallace said. “There’s a grassy area with a path so the kids can ride their bikes. And a playground in the center (of the complex) where they can play, but where they can’t be seen by cars driving by.”
Visiting the complex, it’s crucial to look for obvious–and telltale–evidence that it will suit your needs.
The playground and preschool were clues that Woodfield Gardens would be a children-friendly home for the Wallaces. They also needed to cover the basics, such as checking the water pressure, seeing whether the actual unit they would live in would be large enough and observing whether the unit and the common areas were well-maintained.
There is no better way to judge whether an apartment will be suitable for you than to visit it, said Mary Herrold, leasing and marketing coordinator for Woodfield Gardens.
“Renting an apartment is an emotional buy,” she said. “You’ve got to see it.”
Herrold said that the Internet and newspaper ads can be helpful. “They can help you weed things out,” she said. “But, maybe they got the complex all fixed up for the photo they’re showing. Maybe that photo was taken three years ago.”
Herrold also recommends that people visit the apartment community and the surrounding neighborhood during off-hours, such as at night.
“Drive the property at night. See if there are junky cars there. Does it look well-maintained?” she asked.
Also, talk to current tenants. Herrold said people usually want to be helpful and have no reason not to be honest in describing how a property is maintained or whether the management is responsible and friendly.
Finally, be honest with yourself about what amenities or extras you really need. Maybe you’re hoping to lose 10 pounds, but why pay greater rent for a complex that has a swimming pool, tennis courts and workout room if you won’t use them.
