Before you sign a lease, inspect the apartment for physical damage or safety violations. This is crucial for two reasons: You don't want to be held responsible for damage you didn't cause, and you want an apartment that's safe to live in. Take photos (or make a videotape) of existing damage, date them and get the landlord to sign them. Insist that any violations be corrected before you move in and that any repairs or improvements to be made are recorded in the lease agreement.
Remember, a landlord who keeps the property in good working order is probably someone you want to do business with. A landlord who is careless may be sending you a signal to keep looking
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Additional items you want to evaluate include:
- Smoke detectors
- Mailboxes
- Appliances
- Outdoor lighting
- Locks on doors, windows and sliding glass doors
- Emergency exit signs in hallways
- Fire extinguishers in hallways
- Lead, radon hazards
This is also an opportunity to find out about your prospective neighbors, above, below and next door. Do they have children? Animals? Do you hear loud music coming from other apartments? How close is the pool or recreation area to your apartment? What is acceptable to one person may be hard for someone else to live with. If you think a neighbor's lifestyle may impact yours, now is the time to look at other options.
