Finally moving away from home?

You just earned your degree and you were finally able to land decent job after many months of interviewing. Now you’re thinking about finding your own place and declaring your freedom. A great website for looking for apartments in your area is Padmapper, which is a website that aggregates Craigslist, Rent.com, and Apartment.com all in one place. It’s  simple. All you have to do is enter in your zip code, how many rooms you want, and your price range. Some of the entries have pictures and they all have telephone numbers to contact the person posting the listing. You can save yourfavorite locations to view at a later time.

Make sure you visit all your locations and speak with thelandlord. Ask lots of questions to figure out what is and is not included in the rent. Talk to the neighbors and other tenants to find out what the neighborhood and environment is like. Talk to older relatives, your parents and co-workers about things you should look for in a new apartment. When you finally find the perfect spot and you’re ready to sign the paperwork, pause and review your paperwork carefully. Make sure that you understand what is your responsibility and what the landlord will take care of. Most likely, the landlord is responsible for common areas and the parking lot if there is one. Your personal belongings are YOUR responsibility to protect. Renter’s insurance can help you to protect your items. Learn more about renter’s insurance here.