Leasing an apartment can be a stressful ordeal. Oftentimes you’re pressured into “signing on the dotted line” before you even have a handle on what you’re signing up for. There are promotional tactics, overbearing sales associates looking for a hefty commission check, confusing paperwork chock full of legal jargon, and even more hearsay from disgruntled tenants.
It can feel like you’re signing your life away.
GainesvilleScene teamed up with a local expert to get the low-down on apartment hunting.
Clay Kallman is a third-generation Gainesvillian whose family-owned business has been renting to students since the 1980s. His company, Circa Properties, manages apartments and houses centered in the Midtown area. We picked his brain to find out how to maneuver the mind boggling maze that is finding an apartment.
What is the biggest mistake people make when leasing a place?
Two things:
Number one is not taking into account where you’ll be relative to actual UF classes.
You can be told you are “right near campus” and still have to take the bus or a long walk in the hot sun or pouring rain. If you are “just a few steps to UF,” steps to what? A desolate parking lot, or the front door to Library West? We manage apartments that are so close that you can connect to UF WiFi from your living room, and you can hear the crowd roar when the Gators score a touchdown.
Via: IMGkid
And the second biggest mistake people make when leasing an apartment/house is trading quality for price.
This is not to say that a great apartment can’t be affordable. It’s going to be very hard for a tenant to be happy with the place they choose when they sacrifice the “unseen amenities” such as: a helpful front office staff, a prompt maintenance staff and proximity to places they frequent (work, school, nightlife, grocery store) for the lowest possible rent price.
What would people be most surprised to know about local renting industry?
I think people would be most surprised by just how many housing options there are in Gainesville. There are apartments, houses, duplexes, townhomes, etc. specifically designed for students and managed by companies that recognize student needs, like including internet, offering free online payments and concierge-like maintenance staff who will change lightbulbs and air filters and unlock your front door if you get locked out by your roommate.
What questions should people ask themselves before they sign?
Knowing when your lease starts is important, but don’t forget to consider when your lease ENDS. Leases are often written to end on unusual dates (like July 27th, for example) so that landlords have time to prepare the apartment for new residents. If you are still taking summer classes or your new lease starts in August, you could be couch surfing with nowhere to put your stuff. Many of our leases end in mid-August to help with this problem, and it also makes our apartments attractive for sublets to people taking Summer C classes.
Other questions: What’s my budget? What additional costs other than rent will make up the cost to live there vs. what is included? What fees are involved if I want to sublease or relet during a summer or if I study abroad? How prompt is maintenance after a maintenance request is made?
What questions should people ask their potential leasing company or tenant?
If you have a car, find out about parking!
Apartments near campus have widely different policies for parking. Some include it free, some charge over $100 per month. If you don’t have a car, be sure transportation options nearby are good. A bus stop nearby is a minimum, but also look for SNAP locations and available scooter and bike parking. We also have rentable Zipcars in our parking lot for people that don’t have cars but want easy access to one when needed.
The condition of an apartment is a reflection of the property management that oversees it. Feeling comfortable with property managers is very important because you want to feel comfortable knowing that any issues that may occur throughout your lease term will be handled professionally and promptly.
If you are promised something important while touring or during the leasing process, it should be spelled out in writing too. This is especially important when the person who is showing the property is different from the person that will be there to help when something goes wrong or doesn’t turn out as expected.
What should first-time renters look for in an apartment?
If you are being shown a model, also ask to see an actual apartment. Our models are people who volunteer the apartment they are living in so it changes every year. Then people get a chance to see what a typical apartment actually looks like, not one that’s never been lived in. Talk to friends who have actually lived there or just ask someone walking around an apartment building what they think.
First-time renters (in Gainesville) should look for an apartment that fits their busy lifestyle, offers convenient access to UF and, of course, one that fits their budget.
Before signing your life away, potentially condemning yourself to a four-wall purgatory, consider a pro’s advice. There’s nothing like a seasoned veteran leading you in battle.
Happy hunting.
Featured photo courtesy of: AptMags
