How to rent an apartment
Step 1 Booking apartment
Search online and book online first, the service fee is around $250-350 deposit.
Email them or walk in to ask them for some fee details. Like monthly service fee. Some apartments might need an extra camera fee of almost 150/month. So just make sure you understand what money you need to pay.
- 1 If available, walk-in tour to get more info first, some apartments can offer short-term leases like three months but do not show online. (like a short-lease extra fee of $200/month)
- 2 Book online, the service fee is around $250-350 deposit. (If no credit, which will have an extra $250).
- 3 The lease will take 3-5 business days to be approved. (2 weeks + before you move in, make sure extra time).
- 4 Before the lease is been approved, call the apartment every day to follow up then they might speed up. (Purpose: get things done).
- 5 Sign the lease documents. Waiting to move in.
(P.S: If rent a normal car from rental car companies, most of them just accept credit card, but u-haul accepts debit card).
Step 2 Move-in day
- 1 Money Order or Cashier Check (bank)
Asking the apartment service first. Some apartments do not accept the card to pay for some money, just ask before.
(Cashier check you cannot use personal, you should go the bank to do that. Just double-check the money order of which bank the apartment will be accepted. And which bank cashier check they will be accepted).
(For normal apartment, you will just need to pay around two months' rent fee. If they not pretty sure you identify, you might need to pay the whole leasing term money at one time. When you encounter this things, make sure you asking them to give your receipt).
(If have great credit, you don't need to pay an extra monthly fee, they just take the service fee first).
- 2 Electricity
You should call an electricity company like TXU to open the account or add a new address to your account. (The process is long around 30 mins to 60 mins). After finishing you will have an account number like 9xxxxxxxx to your apartment service. (If you have the electricity account, you can connect the account to the new address on Apps and then show apartment, then you can get the key).
- 3 Keys
Let your leasing office staff member to show you around, and teach you how to use their key or applications. When you get you key and enter your new apartment. Everything is done.
- 4 Equipments check
In the next 2 days or a few days you need to check the apartment equipment wether it works fine, it will have a checklist paper, and when you finish the check you give your paper to your leasing office. (A maintenance emergency like Sewage backup, No electricity, Water intrusion, Exterior Door locks not secure, Any exterior unsecured entry, gas lea, clogged toilet, no heat, no air conditioning like over 75 degrees, no hot water, refrigerator not cooling overflowing water and etc. The apartment can be fixed immediately, tell them).
Congratulation
If you are the first time come to the USA or just moved to another new city and want to do the whole thing by yourself, it is very normally encounter some strange problems or policies which is different than before. Take it easy. Figure out the problems one by one, and search for information online. You are becoming stronger. Salute to everyone who just trying to live alone in a new country. Congratulation Eve!
Congratulations again, you are not a student now, be treated as a USA normal adult, who needs income and credit.