Looking at apartments - what to ask? electrical?

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So, my girlfriend and I are going to be looking at some apartments / parts of houses to rent for next year at UW-Madison and we've never done this before.

We want to know if there's anything we should be asking that we might forget or not know about that could help us decide if a place is right for us.

I know I want to ask about their electiral system, but I'm not sure what I should ask about. I'm going to be hooking up:

My main rig with dual power supplies and a ton of harddrives etc.
Girlfriends computer (nothing fancy)
19" monitor
19" flat panel
36" sony wega
maybe another tv (haven't decided yet)
logitech z-560s on the backup computer
Harman Kardon avr 325 reciever on the main computer (manual says peak wattage output = 890 watts, although I don't turn it up anywhere near max)
SVS pb10 isd (300 watt bash amp)
dvd player, vcr, n64

and then all the regular apartment stuff that a normal person would have (microwave, fridge, lights etc.)

So, with all that crap, what should I be asking? One place we looked at didn't even have grounded outlets except in the kitchen.... Is it safe to use those 2-prong adapter things if you screw in that wire to the outlet plate (I think that's what you're supposed to do, right?) What about amps on the power line? I have no idea, please help.

 

[MrChad]

Your username is giving me a seizure.

 

[Gibson486]

What are you gonna ask about there electrical system😕

Anyways...ask how the management company works...

Ask was is consodered damage (are holes from nails in the wall damage?)

Ask about laundry (coin-op, free, tokkettes, etc...)

Ask how you pay rent (landlord picks up, you mail, drop off at supers, etc)

Lots of stuff to ask, it depends what matters to you.

 

[puffff]

one thing, dont forget to check the toilets.. nothing worse than renting an apartment where a toilet doesnt have enough power to flush your turd

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

The places we're looking at are from only a few companies really, we've talked to some people who have dealt with them for a while and they haven't mentioned negative about rent or management problems.

Good point about the laundry, the place without the grounded outlets seems nice with that with laundry facilities in the building really close, but the outlets made me nervous.

When we looked at that one, the friend that lived there showed us the fuse box and that he hadn't needed to change one yet, but it got me thinking about what my power needs would be. I don't want to be blowing fuses in that place (it was fuses, not a switch type box)

 

[Audiotherapy]

also water pressure, ask about lease terms, cost of ulilites bill.


also go there on firday night see if its too loud or not...

 

[Doggiedog]

Neighbors. You should see what they are like if you can. You don't want to live next to a rock&roll band or people with birds and whatnot.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Toilets, didn't think of that one.

I think I'm going to check water pressure for showers too, and taste the tap water heh.

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Your username is giving me a seizure.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: puffff
one thing, dont forget to check the toilets.. nothing worse than renting an apartment where a toilet doesnt have enough power to flush your turd

that has got to be the best advice thus far......:thumbsup:

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Toilets, didn't think of that one.

I think I'm going to check water pressure for showers too, and taste the tap water heh.

edit: good call on the water pressure audiotherapy