What To Bring With You When Looking At New Homes

What To Bring With You When Looking At New Homes

Looking for a new home can be very exciting! Imagining all the possibilities! So, to keep things real, having a “toolkit” on hand to take with you when house or apartment hunting, can help you decide which home will be best for you, where anything can be possible.

What To Have In Your Toolkit

Notebook and Pen – If you’re going to be visiting many places over a short period of time, keeping track of each house or apartment can keep things organized and help you keep note of important information. If easier or preferred, note taking can also be done on some smart phones. Consider an individual page for each location. Include: Address, contact number of landlord or manager, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and anything about the place that you like, or dislike. Any questions that come to mind while viewing the property should be noted.

Camera – Nowadays most phones have a camera, so taking photos can be quite simple. In most cases, taking photos is not a problem, however, its best to check with the landlord/manager first. Taking photos or a video is a good way to visually note specifics about the house or apartment you are viewing. Take pictures of everything, and don’t forget places such as: inside the closets, kitchen cabinets, and the shower. If you will be sharing the home and the other person is unable to be present at the viewing, being able to see these photos could really help when making decisions.

Tape measure – Having a tape measure can be extremely useful. If you have furniture that you plan on moving, this is the time to check if the pieces will fit into the new space. In addition, check to see if your furniture will fit through the doorways, up any stairs, or in the elevators. Measure your furniture and take these measurements with you to the viewings. These measurements can be noted in your notebook. If you will be Moving a Couch or purchasing new furniture, measure the space to see what your size allowance is for large items such as beds or sofas. A heavy duty steel retractable tape measure is best, as they allow you to measure more accurately, especially if you will be viewing the properties on your own.

Questions to ask the landlord – Some of the houses or apartments you see, you might just walk in and walk right back out again, without any questions or doubt that they are not for you. However, some of the homes you view could be just the right one. So, looking beyond how the apartment looks, here is a list of Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lease.

List of requirements – If you, or someone you will be sharing the house or apartment with has specific requirements that are needed in the new home, make a list of these requirements and use your note taking to track which houses or apartments can meet these needs.

References – Being prepared with all the required information needed to submit an application could be a benefit. Many times you come away and consider the pros and cons of each of the places you’ve viewed, but you might just find the right place and want to make an application then and there. On most applications you need to provide information for: employers, former rentals, and references.

With your simple toolkit, you’re equipped to find your perfect home!