Finding the right apartment can be tricky—actually, it’s hard. Especially your first apartment. I just went through the apartment search a couple of years ago. I’ve been thinking about a collection of tips that I wish I knew when I was searching for an apartment, so I hope these help you. And please—if you have any tips yourself, comment them down below! Share the love. 

Go in with an open mind… 

I have searched for apartments with a very specific list and with no list at all. I’ll get to the list-making portion in a second, but make sure you go in with an open mind. An apartment or area may surprise you. It’s OK if you have a specific list of priorities, but be open to changing that list in case the right apartment pops up. 

...but write down a list of priorities. 

Yes, going in with an open mind is important, but writing down what you want and need in your apartment is also critical. Be realistic and don’t forget to dream at the same time! What will make you feel at home? Do you like natural light? Do you actually like the look of hardwood floors or can you look at carpet? Do you need a washer and dryer in-unit? Do you need a parking space? Ask yourself these questions. A great resource can be found here, but don’t hesitate to ask friends or family—some of their wants and needs may be similar to yours. 

Consider reaching out to a realtor. 

I did not know that you can reach out to a realtor—I thought realtors only provided services to those buying a home, not to renters. But yes, realtors can look for places to rent! I reached out to a realtor in search of my home and she took me on four different tours in one day—that’s amazing! The realtor I chatted with was amazing and she was wonderful to work with. Realtors are the middle-man between the apartment and you. They can find places on popular sites like Zillow or Hotpads or Trulia, but also places that aren’t on the market or aren’t advertised on those popular sites. Also, they’ll be realistic with you in case your priority list is a bit too high or puts your search over budget. (Which is what I needed, LOL.) 

Go on apartment tours with a friend. 

Unless you’re meeting the leasing agent, try to go on apartment tours with a friend. It’s safe, obviously, but having a friend there will act as a “peace of mind.” The friend can be there to remind you of your priority list and to be realistic—but also encourage you if you need it.