LOVE THIS LIVING ROOM.

Sorry, but it requires the caps. And now I want a sheepskin for my leather couch.

Do not offer to sign a longer lease unless you are quite sure of the apartment's livability.

I've known many people who sign long leases out of enthusiasm before realizing the landlord is nutso, the neighbors think the building is version 2.0 of their frat house, the laundry room floods during every big storm, etc.

I can't believe you forgot this:

Good Credit.

Thanks for sharing, bepsf! Yes, good credit is important so bring those 1-time free reports with you and save $25 if you can.

References. Last time I was apartment hunting 3 out of the 4 landlords I interviewed were shocked that I brought a list of references. One offered me the apartment based solely on that.

Some landlords/property management companies will run their own credit checks. I'm not sure if a self-provided credit report would be sufficient.

I was in competition to get a really choice apartment many years ago. I brought my last two W-2 forms and a bank statement showing healthy savings and a stock portfolio. It may have been overkill, but I got the apartment and lived there happily for four years with only one minor rent increase until I bought my first house.

Looking in Toronto, a town with a consistent 0.01% vacancy rate, I put together a "Rental CV".

Since almost every landlord had a long, detailed application form to fill out, I made up a CV listing my employer, my references, and all the names and contact information for my last five landlords, plus anything else they'd need to know.

It made applying for places fast and easy, made checking my references a snap, and made me stand out from the crowd. Everyone else would be kneeling in the hallway trying to print their previous landlords name in those stupid little boxes, and I'd just say "Here".

For a grad student, I got some fabulous apartments that way.

Putting together a package including your credit report and a letter giving them a bit of information about yourself (and your pet, if you have one) is a big help. In the event that meeting face to face isn't possible, it's a great way to let them know a bit about you and your personality. I think we got our current place partly because of the adorable photo of our kitten we included, not to mention our willingness to offer a huge pet deposit.

Do not sign a long lease before you move in. Until you live there and know that you want to stay the best thing about an awful apartment is knowing you can move when your lease is up.

I'm a real estate agent in NYC, and a letter of employment, excellent credit and meeting with the landlord is required, not an option. The best thing to separate you from the rest of the pack is having everything ready to go, and to be ready to rent. I can't tell you how many times I've shown the apartment, the client has loved it, went home to think it over, and when they finally get back to me, it's gone.
Also, in a lot of leases now, there's a 30 day written notice clause to get out of the lease if you need to. Just make sure it's in your lease!

jrochest, a Rental CV is an amazing idea! It makes so much sense, I'm surprised landlords don't make it a requirement.

I think having bank statements, paycheck statements, rental history and references ready to go are pluses, especially if they aren't requested by the landlord. I even included a brief "cover letter" with my documents I submitted when I was first viewed my studio, explaining where I went to school, how I got my job, and stressed how organized and clean I was. I was offered the studio the following day. I also happened to luck out with no credit check; which I think is helpful to potential tenants and more reliable for landlords. I submitted proof of my income and they could see my spending habits by my bank statements. I think this was more of an assurance than a credit system that I think, especially nowadays, is quickly becomming nothing more than proof of the rogue business schemes of creditors.

Renting in San Francisco, as in other major cities, it's cutthroat. You don't have the option nor the luxury of not signing a lease before you move in. They won't even let you have the keys until you do.

What has worked for me, and it works for a lot of my friends, is to bring the rental packet: credit history, employment record (last two paycheck stubs), recommendation letters from previous landlords, checkbook, and your bank account.

All the other items lets the landlord see you're responsible. The checkbook and bank statement is to allow you to pay for the place on the spot. In SF, if it's your dream apartment, it's likely someone else's as well. There are a lot of crappy apartments, so when you find one you love, you have to secure it, on the spot if possible.

That's how I got my current apartment. Saw it on the spot, and paid for it on the spot.

Not sure what it cost to move into places in other city, but it is not uncommon in SF for it to be one month's rent, last month's rent, and security deposit (of one month or one and a half month's rent).

I've seen people do crazy things to secure a place. I've also had places swiped from under me from people who were better prepared than me. Now, I come prepared and ready.

i'm with autobot. i've been looking for a new place to live (the house i live in and don't own is being foreclosed on), and i've noticed a lot more landlords and property management companies are willing to work with so-called bad credit than just a few years ago. so many people have had their credit screwed up through no fault of their own lately. having a good credit history and having a credit card company lower your available credit adversely impacts your credit score.

i don't know what it's like in other parts of the country, but here in southern california, there have been so many foreclosures and short sales and all those people had to find someplace else to live, and did. also, vacancy rates are actually high here, and rents have gone down.

crunchygranola, which part of Southern California are you living in? It took me MONTHS to find a okay/decent one bedroom(loads of 2 and 3 beds for 2500 and up) that wasn't astronomical or was lacking either laundry facilities or parking(its Los Angeles, we have no other choice than to drive). I pay just as much for my LA place than i did for my apt in NY. Which is just sad.

Been a long time from renting. I also leave in the country. I remember melting when walking into a certain place and saying "I was home" and it was mine.With the move in I was greeted with a fireplace filed with wood and matches to set it off. The rental agent had a bottle of champagne/ glasses. and neighbors brought fresh flowers. Ya, really!!! I still live in this town. Just try to get me to move.
BTW I greet new neighbors with chocolate covered strawberries and bubbles!

Just wanted to second post # 2: Do not sign a longer-term lease (e.g. 2 years) until you have lived in an apartment for a while! I once fell in love with a loft studio on what I thought was a quiet street. Well, it was quiet in the afternoon, but at 6:30AM there was a steady stream of delivery trucks going past and the large windows made it sound like they were going right through my room. Thankfully, the landlady let me out of my 1-year lease a few months early when I moved to a condo (but I would have moved even if it meant paying the rent for two more months).

after looking at this photo, i wondered whether bringing along some snapshots of your current well-loved (err... well-decorated) apartment might not hurt. Maybe landlords would prefer tenants who are conscientious and respect the aesthetic condition of a home? any thoughts?

lemook, I did exactly that to secure our current place. After several go rounds, my man & I were informed that we were in the "final 2" of possible tenants. Desperate to get the 1 apartment we had seen on the 1 weekend I flew in to look at places, I racked my brain for what could push to the top spot.

I had documented the evolution of my previous place so I sent the link to the online album. I had it professionally painted and picked every piece of new/old furniture for the place (I still love & have it all). I also made sure my landlord knew I would be moving my stuff in and the boy's stuff was going to people who needed it more than us.

I loved that place and I think it showed in the pics - seems like my current landlord agreed. :) She always comments how nice the place looks when she comes by, which is a nice full circle moment.

I wouldn't bring photos that show anything nailed to the wall.

To second some of the other comments, in most cities (except Toronto, where I lived in many different apts and never provided one), a credit history is not optional. I just bring my own copy with me

In NYC, for example, we gave a credit report, and $ to "hold" the apt. with the application, which was, in my experience, just a formality, as we were accepted on the spot. That $ was decucted from the deposits.

In Miami Beach, it was just a credit score, which I again, provided for them on the spot, and the deposit.

Incidentally, we have 3 pets, and I smoke (but never inside), and that didn't really make a difference. In fact, every single solitary apt. that I've lived in except my current one, was "no pets allowed" officially, until they met me. Sometimes (apparently more often than not), that is really negotiable. Except here in Miami Beach, which is very strict about pets.

That having been said, we are "good tenants" renting good apartments. I think a big part of "winning" the apartment is how you relate to the owner.

In addition to all mentioned above: make sur you dress appropriately. I was more successful in convincing a landlord about what a great tenant I am when dressed to the nines. If necessary just pretend you're coming straight from work. Also (for women) be extremely friendly and a little flirty - not too much though, nobody wants a slutty tenant :-P

I like the tips above except signing a longer lease. Only sign a longer lease if you've known someone personally who's lived there who could give their recommendation of how everything goes with the landlord, units, etc.

Yes on the references! I once scored a great apartment after breaking a lease (evil roommate, horrible landlord, and more) because I was able to provide a good reference from my first landlord. That (great apartment) landlord then waived half the fees when I got transferred before the end of my lease and wrote me the "clean, on time, delightful" recommendation which got us some fees waived here, too! Also, the letter from the employer is vital if you have a housing allowance as part of your package.

Copies of your stock portfolio??!! There is no way I would be willing to provide that to a potential landlord!

The last time I went apartment hunting, I did bring a copy of my credit report, but the manager couldn't use it because she needed a different kind of credit report that lists rental history, i.e. evictions.

I found the same thing as crunchygran0la: a few months ago, it was definitely a renter's market. Every apartment complex had some kind of promotion going on, and the manager of the apartment complex where I live now was very candid and confessed that she was desperate to fill a lot of vacancies. (Bridget212323 - I live in San Diego.)

I guess Southern California must be different than other big cities because I've never had to go to the lengths that these other readers have. Just the basics - proof of employment, good credit, and a good rental history. Or maybe it's because I tend to look for places off the beaten path.

This post is so timely! I'm currently looking for an apartment in Toronto, and it's turning into a major headache.

My main problem is this: I don't have any former landlords, as up until now, I've always lived at "home" with my mom -- I even stayed home through university, which I finished just over a year ago. I'm now ready to move out, and I have a great job and salary, great credit, and no debt... BUT I can't provide any references from former apartments. I'm getting the feeling that because of this, I'm automatically discounted from competition for the better apartments, i.e., the ones I actually really want.

How do I get around this?

When my husband and I went to see our current apartment, we brought a rental resume with all our info and a description of us, credit reports, and a pet resume for our dog. The pet resume had a picture of our dog and description including that she's up to date on shots, gets regular check ups, is flea free, etc. Also had references on it! Our landlord was very impressed and picked us to move in. I know writing a pet resume sounds totally ridiculous, but I think it really made us stand out.

If you have a dog, make sure a 'pet friendly' building will allow your particular dog before applying.

There are insurance companies that will withdraw coverage of a rental property if there are ANY dogs living there. Some will permit small dogs, some restrict certain breeds. And, of course, sometimes landlords aren't willing to deal with dogs. (Which annoys me, since two of my best friends have very sweet pitbulls.)

When I managed two buildings, the insurance company would not allow any dogs at all, and I had an applicant become very irate with ME when I explained that the insurance wouldn't allow his Shih Tzu on the premises, as if I had any say in it.

Which brings me to another tip: If the place isn't going to work, bow out politely (you just might run into them at another rental office five years later, and no one wants a diva tenant).

This is a very handy post for me. I'm moving to Los Angeles in a few weeks, and I have narrowed down to a few places, all in the downtownish/Wilshire district... That's the only area I could find semi decent apartments for under $1000 (I'm poor. Sue me :P ). If anyone has any suggestions of management companies or apartment buildings that aren't too expensive, please feel free to post here! Would be SO appreciated! Much love and thanks! :)

SonjaRW -- You need to get references from friends and/or coworkers, professors, and your boss - anyone who would truthfully say you would be a wonderful renter.

Basically though, the first apartment most take is not the best - everyone has to go through their first rental experience. My advice is find someone who will co-sign for you - the landlord would then know he will get every single dime of his money.

@Mlle_j: What a weirdly sexist comment. Are all landlords straight men? And "too slutty"? Really? Good grief.

I say, be polite and friendly, but don't get overly familiar. You are more bound to hit a wrong note that way.

we did what megbot did, and made a pet resume for our indoor cat. we went as far as to get a reference letter from our vet!

in fact, we made a "portfolio" and brought a package to each landlord, all stapled together in a manila envelope with the address of the apartment on it so we wouldn't get them mixed up. it included; letters of reference from our 3 last landlords, all glowing; letters of employment/recommendation from our bosses, photocopies of our last 4 paystubs; credit check letter; pet resume, including reference letter from vet stating the cat was flea-free, up to date on shots, is well-behaved, and that we are responsible owners; and some photographs of the apt we were currently living in, to demonstrate how well we took care of the place. we also included the phone numbers of our neighbours in case the landlords wished to contact them. we also dressed really nicely and were very well-mannered.

all these measures did little to help us find a place in toronto this past summer- we looked at 17 places total, and "bid" on 11 of them to no avail. eventually, the place we got (and are in LOVE with, happily) was given to us because our new landlord was friends with our old landlord!

we both had a hard time not chalking our rejections up to homophobia. has anyone else been rejected this many times in one search? it really seemed like a lot to us.