GENERAL INFORMATION: Before You Lease - Visiting The Properties

PICK MY BRAIN: Before You Lease - Visiting The Properties

Any issues you have – broken leases, evictions, new job, credit issues, etc. should have already been discussed with your locator. The locator should have prepared the property.

Once you are comfortable with the advantages and price differences in each complex it is time to visit. But before you do, ask your locator to calll ahead and give you a throughout understanding of the CURRENT specials and the apartment AVAILABILITY in the 3 or 4 places you plan on visiting.

Understand the application fees, administrative fees, pet deposits, and any other financial outlay before you visit. Your locator should give you an idea of the requirements of every complex on your “short list”; why visit if they won’t or can’t accept you.

Your locator should prepare you for the LOOK & LEASE specials. In fact, you would be wise to ask what these are as soon as you meet the apartment complex leasing agent. If they won’t tell you, indicate that you are ready to leave if they don’t.

Gather your documentation: social security cards for all the occupants, Photo ID’s for the adults, last 4 pay stubs for the lease holders, and birth certificates for children. Don’t forget any paperwork that provides proof of income for a new position (like a letter from your employer). If you have any criminal convictions, be sure to bring any documentation that states that the conditions were satisfied.

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GENERAL INFORMATION: Before You Lease CALL a Great Apartment Locator!

PICK MY BRAIN: Before You Lease Call A Great Apt Finder

Pick a locator that commits you helping you; you should commit to the locator too. A locator, or apartment finder, wants to know they will have your commitment because many people don’t remember to “put the finder’s name as the referral source”. Tell your locator you PROMISE not only to list them AND to call them back to let them know where you have leased. Since they make a commission only when they bill the complex where you leased, you will have a committed locator and get the great service you deserve.

Know where you want your apartment - have an idea of either what part of the city or how close you need the apartment to your work. Your locator should be able to find you an apartment close to your work or close to the freeways or bus lines you need. Understand what you want; nothing hinders a locator more than a client who doesn’t have a preference on location.

Know what you must have and what you can “give” on. If you are looking for an inexpensive apartment, don’t expect an amenity that normally only is found with expensive apartments. Example – don’t expect an attached garage with a $500 apartment – it just isn’t there.

What style of apartment do you want? Keep in mind that lofts are typically only found in urban areas. Some apartments like a duplex or triplex are found mostly in suburban areas. Flats or one story apartments and townhouses (normally 2 or 3 floors) can be found in both urban and suburban areas.

Have a realistic understanding of the price range in the area you want. Just because there are $399 apartments in some parts of town doesn’t mean there are apartments in this price range where you want to live. And your locator may be able to find you a “really cheap” apartment, but would you really live there…many a person has asked me for a $400 apartment but when I deliver they are horrified at the accommodations.

All Bills Paid apartments normally cost about $150 more a month than “regular” apartments where you pay the utilities. I don’t think they are worth it since most people would pay less than $150 a month for utilities. The All Bills Paid apartments normally have a more transient clients than other rentals.

Length of lease term – less than 6 months usually has an “up charge” and no specials. 6 to 7 is the shortest lease I recommend. In Texas, 12 to 13 months is standard but many complexes offer 18 month leases. Some leases in college towns or areas correspond to the school term.

Your locator should be able to find you the lease you want at a great complex and if your credit is OK - he or she should be able to deliver some great specials. A great locator can save you hundreds of dollars and get you an apartment where you will be very happy - this is a FREE Service where you win big!

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*Like the "Gold Guys" image. I've used this free image with the approval of the artist. To view the free images or for information on purchasing Gold Guys images see http://thegoldguys.blogspot.com/

FELONS: AptFindFelons.com now has the DFW apartment information

FELONS: AptFindFelons.com now has the DFW apartment information

July 10, 2009

AptFindFelons.com, the only website we know of that is geared solely to help felons and their families find Texas apartments, is available now for residents of the Dallas – Ft. Worth Metroplex.

This FREE apartment locating service is offered to anyone who will agree to use JOHN AT THE APARTMENT STORE as the Referral Source and agrees to notify John of any leased signed. To request this service, just click on this link.

Until now it has been almost impossible for felons and their families to rent apartments in DFW quickly and easily.

DFW joins Houston as the first two areas to be covered by this service. San Antonio and Austin will be ready by the end of July 2009.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Before you lease - Run Your Credit Report

The second in a series called PICK MY BRAIN

Before You Lease 1 of 4 - Run your credit report

Run your Credit Report for free at www.annualcreditreport.com. The site will present six to eight questions that only you would know the answer to (example: what color was the car you purchased in 1997 or did you ever live on Bayshore Blvd.). The web-based program will then ask you which of the 3 credit bureaus you want to check – pick all three. Then the site will ask you if you want to purchase credit scores or other tools – just say NO to keep the session free.

Dispute any inaccurate information. If the report shows you have a broken lease or owe for a credit card you don’t owe – dispute this and follow the instructions on how to formally file a dispute (it usually involves writing a certified letter not just clicking on Dispute).

Doggedly pursue any disputed items; this can save you big bucks and increase the number of apartment complexes that will accept you. For example, if an apartment complex says you broke a lease, it may eliminate 8 of 10 apartment complexes from your search. Plus you are unlikely to get a special with a broken lease.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Why you should NEVER visit an Apartment Complex before you are ready to Lease!

The First of a Series of Blogs called "Pick My Brain"

PICK MY BRAIN: Never visit an apt until you are ready to Lease

The apartment's leasing agent will, 99% of the time, offer you a "Look N Lease" special that expires quickly. Sometimes the moment you set foot off the property, or in 24 hours, or by end of business today (you get the idea).

The special can be super, like a free month's rent, or a teaser - like a "free garage" but you may not be ready to "pull out your pen and sign" unless you and your locator have prepared you.

Your finances may not be in order, you may need to talk it over (especially if you don't have your spouse or loved one with you), or you may just want to mull it over. But the idea of missing that "free offer" is getting to you.

You need to be ready and your locator should have prepared you. That is what a good locator does. He or she helps you determine the 3 or 4 properties to visit then finds out the specials you may be offer red. In that way you aren't surprised.

And in the apartment hunting game as in most financial matters, truly the Best Surprise is No Surprise.

Watch for more of the Pick My Brain series on apartment hunting.

Regards,

John

At The Apartment Store

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FELONS: Having a Tough Time Finding a decent apartment?

You thought your legal problems ended at the courthouse...

You never knew that most apartment complexes wouldn't want you to live at their complex. But I can help. I know the apts and town houses that will give you the second chance you deserve.

I specialize in helping felons who have turned their life around. I am dedicated to helping you and your family find the best housing available.

I won't kid you - it's not easy. But my database of apartments is broken down by TIME and CRIME. I can help over 90% of my applicants find apartments.

But, don't bother me if you won't commit to using me as your Referral Source - it takes me over 3 times longer to place you than a client without a criminal conviction. And like anybody, if I'm going to invest hours of my time, I want to be paid.

The good news is that the apartments will pay my fee out of their marketing budget. So my service is FREE to you.

How do you start? Select this link and complete a FIND A TX APT FOR ME. I must have complete information. I am able to place Houston applicants now and I'm working on my database for DFW, Austin, and San Antonio. I expect to have my database work completed for DFW in July, San Antonio in early August, and Austin in late August.

Let's get started towards finding you and your family the decent housing you deserve.

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HOUSTON: Don't Run Your Legs Off - Let me simplify your apt search

Stop running your legs off searching for the right apartment.

I offer a FREE Apartment Locating Service - all you need to do is to agree to use my name JOHN AT THE APARTMENT STORE as your referral source.

To start your search, the simple way, just complete the following form: FIND A TX APT FOR ME.

After all, the Houston region has over 563,790 Houston Apartments in 160 cities/towns, 248 zip codes, 53 public school districts (1,189 individual schools), 39 Universities & Colleges and 41 major market areas.

© Copyright 2009. 24x7AptFind.com. and AptFindFelons.com. All Rights Reserved.

*Like the "Gold Guys" image. I've used this free image with the approval of the artist. To view the free images or for information on purchasing Gold Guys images see http://thegoldguys.blogspot.com/