Getting Help Finding That Perfect Apartment

You have just been relocated to a new city or maybe you just want to move to another part of town. Finding a new apartment can be a daunting task when one considers trying to narrow down their search with all the options they prefer. In the end, it could mean hours of your time, which often equals money.

This is where apartment locators come in handy. If you haven’t used an apartment locator, this is how they work. First, they want to know what it is you are seeking so they can give you your top choices based on your preferences. Here are some of the types of questions an apartment locator will ask you:

1. What kind of rent would you like to pay?
2. How many bedrooms or bathrooms do you want?
3. Do you prefer parking?
4. Do you have pets?
5. Is there a preferred area you would like to live in?
6. Is it important if the apartment has a washer/dryer?

Once you have answered these questions, the locator can give you a list of apartments and possibly photos so that you can sort through your choices on your own time. Having this information ahead of time will save you time in driving around from apartment to apartment and fighting traffic. This alone is often worth the use of an apartment locator, and their services most often are free to you.

The apartment locator not only has access to all apartments in your desired area, they also help you organize your move-in date, work with you on signing your lease and sometimes can help you find movers to assist you. In addition, if apartment complexes are offering rebates or discounts, your apartment locater can pass this information on to you, which can save you a lot of money up front.

Having an expert who is familiar with the neighborhood you are considering moving into is also handy when it comes to evaluating safety. For many, safety can be a primary consideration when choosing an apartment community. No amount of amenities, swimming pools, clubhouses and fancy appliances are worthwhile if you don't feel secure in your own home.

Last, because it my be important for your apartment to be located close to your job or at least an easy access, apartment locaters who are familiar with the town or city you are moving to, can help you narrow your choices. This again in the end will save you time and money.

Is an apartment locator right for you? There isn’t much you have to lose as they do all the work and you pay nothing for their time.

Kim Shufelt is the CEO of www.Dallas-Apartment.com, the leading Dallas apartment locater for apartments in Dallasoffering free personalized Dallas apartment listings and all other areas of the Dallas Metroplex. For more information, please visit http://www.Dallas-Apartment.com.

Renting and noisy neighbors

Noise can be a nuisance and worse of all it stalks us in our own homes, thanks to the neighbors. About 100 million Americans share walls with strangers, many in acoustical slums. In U.S. Census Bureau surveys, people consistently rate noise ahead of crime, traffic and other social ills as a primary reason they want to move.

Noise can be beyond frustrating. All this thumping, rock and roll and screaming that barges uninvited into our bedrooms is a known stressor. Noise also makes usineffective and cranky, raises our blood pressure and robs us of decent sleep.

And now for the bad news: Much of what we've been doing to block the noise doesn't work. If you have tried carpet on the wall, blankets, corkboard or egg cartons, you have probably realized by now, they don’t work. While these materials do line makeshift music studios, they are meant to absorb sound already in the room, therefore improving the quality. Exterior noise still gets in. It just bounces around for a bit less time.

If the noise is enough to bother you, it will still bother you after stapling egg cartons to your ceiling. Even some products advertised as cure-alls on the Internet are far from it. Worse, some construction contractors, unversed in the complex details of soundproofing, have been known to choose or install ineffective soundproofing products, leaving the client with a bill but no relief.

But don't give up hope for peace just yet. It is possible to engage in a little "acoustical self-defense, so long as you understand how sound travels, can identify the source of the problem and know to hunt for the right combination of products.

To start, you need to understand how sound works. Sound is a vibration: the quiver of a violin string under a bow; the rattle of vocal cords; the impact of a shoe against the floor. The vibration excites molecules -- in air, liquid or solid -- that in turn excite the molecules beside them, and so on, forming a radiating wave of pressure. This pressure wave, received as sound, continues until it naturally dissipates or until it is:

• Blocked. This requires mass -- very high-density materials -- to act as a barrier. Lead works; foam doesn't.
• Absorbed. Uses insulation materials to absorb vibrations that would otherwise bounce around -- and echo -- in an air cavity like a drum.
• Dampened. Uses chemically engineered paste or strips to transform the energy of sound into heat.
• Isolated. Uses nonconductive materials, in wall clips or pads, to isolate the transmission of vibrations between objects.

There are several additional tactics you can use immediately:

Use white noise: That is, a consistent, rhythmic hum might help mask light sound and divert your attention. You can find machines or CDs, or try fans or water fountains.

Isolate the problem. Bass, that low boom from your neighbor's stereo, takes a lot of energy to produce. These low-frequency sound waves are especially hard to combat since they travel far and wide, bending easily around objects. It's why foghorns use them, and why when thunder is distant you hear only its low rumble.

Try to block the sound's path by putting special "isolation pads" or "noise-vibration pads" under your bedposts. Ask your neighbor if you can put pads under his TV, treadmill or washing machine to better attack the problem at the source.

If the noise is really bad sometimes the landlord will get involved because he realizes he can't get top dollar with these noise issues.

Know your rights: Learn about sound ratings required for buildings in your area before talking to the landlord or building association. The information will better arm you for coverage of upgrades. If needed, a real-estate lawyer might help you recover costs or get out of a lease.

What you should not do is:

• Knock under the influence (of anger): Yes, it's hard to wait, but it will serve your needs better if you can work calmly and pragmatically with your neighbor. Plus, these things can escalate.
• Save police for a last resort: Even nice people turn not so nice after you call the cops. It might fix a big event, but it could further amplify day-to-day noise problems.
• Avoid another bad situation: If you must move, don't rush. Take time to visit potential apartments at different times of day to evaluate their noise levels. You can find additional tips for quiet-apartment hunting here.

Kim Shufelt is the CEO of www.Dallas-Apartment.com, the leading Dallas apartment locater for apartments in Dallas offering free personalized Dallas apartment listings and all other areas of the Dallas Metroplex. For more information, please visit http://www.Dallas-Apartment.com.

Signing a lease on your apartment

Understanding and completely reading your apartment rental lease is important. There is legal ease and there is straight language. Here are a few things to consider before signing your new apartment lease:

Check to see when the rent is due.

Find out where to go to pay your rent, who it should be given to, or where it should be sent.

What are the late charges for rent not paid on time? -When do these charges begin?

Exact amount of deposit needed.

When is this deposit returned?

How can you lose this deposit?

Is there a pet deposit? If so, how much is it? When can it get refunded? Can you get this deposit back if you no longer have your pet?

How soon after you move out is the deposit returned?

Can you have roommates and what is the building’s policy on adding someone to the lease if necessary?

What exactly does the rent include?

Does the rent include any utilities? If so which ones?

What appliances and/or furniture, if any, are included in the apartment rental fees?

Is parking included in the apartment rental or is there an additional charge?

Are there any additional charges for the use of any building amenities such as the gym or community center? If there are additional fees, what are they and if you don’t use the amenities will you still be responsible for those fees?

What repairs are covered within the lease? If something happens and repairs need to be made by building management, who needs to be called? Are there any charges for repairs not covered in the lease? If so, what are those costs? How quick is the turn around for something to be fixed that is covered in the lease?

How much advance notice is needed when you come to your lease term and you are planning to move?

If you need to move out before the end of your lease term, what fees will you be responsible for?

Check if there are any specific cleaning instructions that need to be followed before you move out. If these aren’t followed to the letter, part of your deposit may be accessed to cover these cleaning costs.

Most leases have a clause regarding noise and disturbance. This means the tenant (the lessee) and anyone in his or her apartment won't disturb the other tenants in the building, or use the apartment for illegal purposes.

Other common regulations include who pays for losses, how notice will be given between the tenant and the landlord, when subletting is allowed, if it is allowed, when a landlord can enter your apartment.

Depending on your state, there are laws regarding what a landlord can or can’t require within your lease, so do some research and find out your rights.

If you need to make a change to your lease, ask to add a provision to your lease. Ask that the change on the lease be written in and then both you and the manager should initial the change. Never agree to something only verbally, make sure all agreements are put in writing.

If you don’t understand something, ask questions. And don’t feel pressured to sign the lease right there and then on the spot. Take some time with your lease agreement and make sure you understand everything and everything is covered within it.

And last, don’t forget to get a copy of your lease for your records!

Kim Shufelt is the CEO of www.Dallas-Apartment.com, the leading Dallas apartment locator offering free personalized Dallas apartmentlistings and all other areas of the Dallas Metroplex. For more information, please visit http://www.Dallas-Apartment.com.