How soon is too soon...

xxquemirasxx

to start looking for apartments to rent?

We have done some searches on craigslist, but should we start applying NOW? So confused! Some people have told us some places have a long process or approval and waiting list etc... I have no clue NEVER done this...

We were hoping to moving in things Sept 1st, I'm just not sure if I'm thinking too ahead or we just need to wait till it gets closer.

Confused

[Deleted User]

It's never too soon. Where you live is very important.  Driving around and scoping out the neighborhood is one of the most important things you can do when deciding where to live.  You don't just want to look at the address, but what's nearby.  What services are there around? Grocery Store, Hospital etc. What kind of utilities that you have to pay.  Which utilitiy companies you have to deal with.  Are there children playing?  

Before we bought our house, we drove around at least a year, keeping our eyes peeled looking at neighborhoods we liked and discussing and finding common ground as to what we both had to have nearby, what we wanted in our place, and what was an absolute deal breaker, as in "I don't care how cheap this place is,  we're walking away right now because we refuse to deal with this."

You may find your FI far more willing and far more approachable on the subject of where he wants to live than he is on minute wedding details.  The wedding to most guys seems like fluff, where they are going to live afterwards is far more real and tangible to them  Be open and honest with your expectations,  you're gonna find that you have even more common ground that you thought you had before.

Also one other thing:  the more time you research an area, whether renting or buying, the more information you have and that gives you more negotiating power.  Just like researching vendors for your wedding gave you way more confidence to make an informed decision,  the more information you have in real estate--the less likely you are to make a bad decision.

We had the seller agent that we had to deal with pull a fast one on us.  The wednesday prior to our offer, I managed to see an in-office e-mail between her and her client asking her for a "heads up" if she has the feeling that an offer is coming.

The day after that, there was a snow storm and the day following we made our offer.  Would you believe they had the nerve to say had another offer and that we may want to reconsider our offer and put in something into our contract saying we would "go x amount higher than their best offer?"

Well, I was like "you got to be freaking kidding me! When the heck did you show the house? In the middle of a freaking snow storm?  We're not going to even consider an increase in price unless it comes in the form of a counter-offer.  I don't care how many offers you have gotten, we may be first-time buyers but we're not morons to be bidding war in this market.  Your deadline is noon tomorrow, if we hear that your client went with another offer, and then you call us next week asking us if we're still interested, we still will  be  but we will drop $5k off our initial offer because you wasted our freaking time!"

Our agent toned down the vehemence a little. But needless to say, we got a counter offer in less than an hour afterwards  and we went under contract not two hours later

Real estate is very cut-throat and if you go in like a shrinking violet, most leasing or selling agents will be like sharks smelling blood in the water.

Mellie35

I think it is too soon for most places on Craigslist. Things move pretty fast on there. I would think to start looking a couple of months ahead of time.

futuremrsmueller12

I would start looking now and start applying in May or early June... Sometimes it takes like 2-3 months for everything to clear (around her in orange County) and especially since you want to move in by the first of September the apartment owner will need to clean/paint fix anything before hand and clear your name. Plus If you apply ahead and give them time they are more willing to give you a speacial offer... Just from personal experiences!

crnota

No harm in looking now, and finding neighborhoods you like, but as far as actual apartments being available...you can't really do that now. Anything open for rent now on craigslist will be rented by September (and if it's not....it's not a good deal or something else might be wrong with it...it could be a sign!).

My brother just arrived in LA last Tuesday. He looked for apartments on craigslist when he arrived, then spent 2 days driving around and visiting them. He put in an application for his first choice, found out he was approved the next day, and gets the keys today (less than a week from arriving).

Vans18

I started looking like 4-3 months from the date.  I actually found mine on rent.com i think and it says you have to pay for the service so that you can get all the info but what I did was that I searched on location then whatever apartment names came up I would google them on a separate tab and check them out.

Melistar85

I think its a good idea to start looking around cities you guys might be interested in so you can get an Idea of how much rent is in that area.
We started looking around 2 months, and it was hard to find something within our budget.. since I was not working at that time.
We got our Apt. about 1 1/2 month before the wedding in order to start getting things settled and ready for Nov. 29th

I say you hold off on actually getting something now, unless of course you are planning to move in before the wedding

CANDEE43

Agree with most the girlies on here.  It's good to get a feel for where you want to live but FI and I are looking to move end of June and everywhere I call says to call back in May.  I haven't gotten 1 place to go forward with it.  I started looking in Feb/March and so many places were telling me I was way too soon.  What they have available now isn't what they will have then.
but atleast you can get a feel for where you'd like to live. =]

dawnbeatty

I would start now - at least so you can get a feel of the area and the people around.  Regardless of where you guys decided ALWAYS go back at night and on a Friday and Saturday night as well.  You want to see how the neighborhood is when most of the people are around. 
GL - how exciting!

xxquemirasxx

FI also thought it was a bit too soon, but he did make an appt for this Saturday for a place we REALLY like and the site manager said it would  NOT be able for 60 days so we are talking about maybe June or July.

Also since we have fur babies, 2 to be exact I think it will be harder and more expensive!

CANDEE43

I've definitely found it's been difficult finding a place we like that allows pets.  Some pet rent is $100 per pet and $1000 pet deposit.
Good luck this Saturday! =]

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I highly recommend Westside rentals.

I'd give yourselves about 3 months. But you have to be willing to accept an offer when it happens. FI and I put in an application for an apartment at the end of June '08 and had the keys by July 4th weekend. It was nice because we then gave notice at our current place and had about 6 weeks to pack out stuff and move things slowly.

So if you are willing to make a move and sign a lease ASAP, I'd say start looking in late May. If not, wait until late July. It also depends how many stipulations you have. If you want an in-unit washer/dryer you aren't going to have as many options, you know?