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Apartment Hunting in Dallas

SMOGZINN

SMOGZINN

Lifer
I'm heading to Dallas tomorrow to look for an apartment, somewhere in near the Downtown area. The last time I rented an apartment (or anything really) was about 15 years ago. So, I'm wondering if any of you have any tips that could help save me from ending up in a bad situation.
What questions do you ask the Apartment managers when looking at a apartment?
What sorts of things do you think is important in your renting decision?
Any other general tips?
 
Originally posted by: buck
Beware of loud people who live above you.
Click to expand...

+1

and pet restrictions in advance.

Also id ask them to repaint your walls, and steam your carpet if they dont offer. Your gonna get charged for that at the end of the lease regardless of condition anyhow.
 
Shortest lease possible.....just in case. My last apartment several years ago, the neighbors were nice but they argued and smoked on the balcony. It was on 7th St in Fort Worth. I moved when the apartment was grazed by a tornado and I started to notice mold. Shame too because the building barely a year old and I was the first tennant in that apartment.
 
Originally posted by: NSFW
Is there a body under the bed?
Click to expand...

If there is no body under the bed, should I demand one?

Originally posted by: buck
Beware of loud people who live above you.
Click to expand...

I thought of this, but is there any realistic way of finding out if the people above an apartment is loud in a 10 min visit?


Originally posted by: aigomorla
and pet restrictions in advance.

Also id ask them to repaint your walls, and steam your carpet if they dont offer. Your gonna get charged for that at the end of the lease regardless of condition anyhow.
Click to expand...

I'm not really a pet person, so I'm not worried about that.
Hm, I'll have to ask about panting the walls and steaming the carpets.

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Shortest lease possible.....just in case.
Click to expand...

I?m going to be in Dallas for one year at least. A shorter lease would be okay, but don't they charge more for shorter leases? Do you think that a 6 month lease is worth an extra $50 a month (or what ever they charge)?
 
Depends on the building, I had a 6 month lease which was full price. But if you signed a 12 month, you got a free month. So I guess if you divide that by 12 that could be considered at hit. Since your positive on a 1 year stay I guess a 12 month wouldnt hurt. No sense in moving twice and then jet out of town.

I just didnt want to be stuck with in a situation I didnt like.
 
Ask them if you can see the actual apartment they'll be renting you. Sometimes they'll show you a model apartment and the actual one might not be in as good shape.

Ask about your future neighbors. They won't be able to give you details obviously, but usually they'll tell you if it's a family, old people, students, etc.

Edit: Yes, they usually will charge more for a shorter lease.
 
Originally posted by: ggnl
Ask them if you can see the actual apartment they'll be renting you. Sometimes they'll show you a model apartment and the actual one might not be in as good shape.

Ask about your future neighbors. They won't be able to give you details obviously, but usually they'll tell you if it's a family, old people, students, etc.
Click to expand...

Good advice. I didn't think about the fast that they might have model apartments. Thanks, I'll make sure to ask to see the actual apartment I'll be leasing.

Originally posted by: G Wizard
i hope for your sake, you're looking north of downtown.
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Yes, I'm looking mostly Northeast from downtown up to SMU, and Deep Ellum.
I have 2 more weeks before I move, so I will drive around a little and get a better idea of where I want to live. I just know I want to be near Downtown. I live too far away from my current job and don't want a repeat the 1.5 hour commute I currently have in Houston.

 
There are some really nice brand new apartments at 75 and Fitzhugh that I almost moved into before I signed a lease on an actual home. Might try that area....low crime rate, close to Dart....and near a ton of shopping/good/etc.
 
Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
Originally posted by: NSFW
Is there a body under the bed?
Click to expand...

If there is no body under the bed, should I demand one?

Originally posted by: buck
Beware of loud people who live above you.
Click to expand...

I thought of this, but is there any realistic way of finding out if the people above an apartment is loud in a 10 min visit?


Originally posted by: aigomorla
and pet restrictions in advance.

Also id ask them to repaint your walls, and steam your carpet if they dont offer. Your gonna get charged for that at the end of the lease regardless of condition anyhow.
Click to expand...

I'm not really a pet person, so I'm not worried about that.
Hm, I'll have to ask about panting the walls and steaming the carpets.

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Shortest lease possible.....just in case.
Click to expand...

I?m going to be in Dallas for one year at least. A shorter lease would be okay, but don't they charge more for shorter leases? Do you think that a 6 month lease is worth an extra $50 a month (or what ever they charge)?
Click to expand...

I would ask them to have someone walk around upstairs before I made a commitment to the place. Think about how much it would suck to hear people walk around all the time in your home. Fuck that.

I made that mistake only once in my life.
 
I have lived in and around Dallas for most of my life, my advice : stay away from downtown. There's no reason to live there.

If you want something close that's not as dangerous, less congested, and has much better food/shopping/access to the northern sphere (everything south of woodall rogers expwy is trash in D/FW), go to Oak Lawn.
 
Originally posted by: Arkaign
I have lived in and around Dallas for most of my life, my advice : stay away from downtown. There's no reason to live there.

If you want something close that's not as dangerous, less congested, and has much better food/shopping/access to the northern sphere (everything south of woodall rogers expwy is trash in D/FW), go to Oak Lawn.
Click to expand...

Care to tell me where Oak Lawn is so I can find it on a map?
 
Sure 🙂

http://maps.yahoo.com/broadban...&tp=1&q1=Dallas%2520TX

The area is conveniently located near all the major freeways, particularly the Dallas North Tollway, is right next to the Turtle Creek area (very nice!). There is somewhat of an artsy community there, along with some gay/lesbian clubs, lots of amazing restaurants, etc. The neighborhood is a lot better than the downtown loft / Deep Ellum crowd. Deep Ellum is right next to some of the most dangerous spots in the metroplex as far as murder and violent crime. Not as much fratboy/drunken party crowd either.
 
I moved to DFW about 1.5 years ago, I looked at the possibility of doing uptown but decided I didn't want to commute to Richardson daily.

I have heard (but never tried) that the best bet is to ask to see an apartment at night. Basically trying to see what the apartment is like at the times you'd be home. Especially if you are doing near downtown you can hopefully tell if the area seems crappy, or is loud, or the apt has thin floors, etc.

I would also second staying away from Deep Ellum.
 
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