Whether you’re looking for a place in Foggy Bottom, or your first apartment after graduation, finding an apartment can be a daunting task. Here are some tips to help you organize your search.

-Maura Judkis

Figure out how much you can afford, and adjust your Internet search to your price range. If you plan on having roommates, this is a good initial talk to have with them. Prices can vary between roommates – for example, would one roommate pay more than others for a larger bedroom?

Consider proximity and convenience. Is the potential apartment close to campus? If that doesn’t matter to you, is it near a grocery store, Metro stop, your internship, your favorite coffee shop?

Figure out which amenities are important to you and your roommates. Do you need to have your own bedroom? Is a washer and dryer a necessity? Does it have air conditioning? Do you want your apartment to come furnished? Are utilities included?

Determine how you will present yourself to a landlord. As a student, you might be competing against older professionals with larger and steadier salaries, so be prepared to get your parents involved in the process of negotiating your lease. Most landlords require that a full-time student’s parents co-sign the lease.

Whether by Craigslist, rent.com, or roomster.net, many great apartments are found over the Internet. Be sure that the site you’re checking out is legit, and call ahead to schedule a visit or open house. Sign up for Craigslist RSS feeds with your apartment specifications, and the site will notify you when anything new is put up.

Then again, the Internet isn’t always the best place to search. You might stumble upon a great English basement by walking around a neighborhood you like and seeing a “for rent” sign, so try to spend time in places you think you’d like to live.

Ask your landlord a lot of questions, and talk to residents if you get the chance. Some things to find out: How quickly are maintenance issues resolved? Are your neighbors quiet, and will they get upset if you throw a party? Has anyone seen a roach lately? Visit the building on your own, without a management escort.

Security is important to investigate during your open house or initial visit. Make sure that your door has a peephole, that fire alarms are up-to-date and audible, and that any first-story windows have bars across them. For some people, it’s important that the apartment have a doorman, or someone that sits at a front desk. Spend time in your prospective neighborhood during both day and night to see how safe you feel. If you’re curious about a particular neighborhood, you can find crime statistics at mpd.dc.gov.

Make sure you read the entire lease before you sign. If you don’t understand a part of it, clarify first, or else you’ll be held to whatever it says above the dotted line. Don’t feel obligated to sign on the spot.

Source: www.washingtonpost.com