This article may be reprinted and redistributed freely as long as the
entire article, byline and bio are included.

You've been waiting for this moment all your life and now it's here.
You are looking for your first apartment. Ahh, the badge of
independence, no more parents nagging and asking you: Where are you
going? Who are you going with? What time are you coming back? What
are you going to do there for so long? It's enough to drive you
insane, but you have finally saved up enough money to start looking.
Or so you think.

When thinking of getting an apartment you have to consider a number
of things. To help us freedom seekers, I have asked Dr. Cheryl
Burton, a licensed real estate broker in White Plains, NY to give
some advice on how to get an apartment.

Before the search
In order to live comfortably, party and manage essential living
expenses such as food, phone bill, electricity and hot water, Burton
says you should expect to spend at least 1/3 of your monthly salary.

According to Burton, "You should budget what you are able to spend on
the apartment and save about three times that amount," before you
start looking. That will cover one month's rent, one month's
security '(some landlords may charge two month's security)' and a
realtor's fee, if you plan on using one. In Connecticut, unlike New
York, not all realtors charge so make sure you ask first. If you have
to use a realtor be advised that they might request the equivalent of
one month's rent as their fee while others may charge 12% to 15% of
the annual gross rent. Goodness! Let's just look at that for a moment
shall we? Let's say your rent is $750/month ù that equals
$9,000
annually. Now 15% of that is $1350! I suggest you try your best to do
the search on your own. Look in the paper or ask friends, family or
co-workers. Burton says to be wary of realtors that ask for a
finder's fee for an apartment list, because most times the apartments
listed are already rented and your fee is non-refundable. You should
save approximately two to three month's rent as a cushion, in case
you have an emergency such as loss of job, illness without pay,
liposuction etc.

Here's something that may have slipped your mind: credit check and
references. You have to expect the landlord to check up on you to
make sure you are able to pay the rent and that you won't tear the
apartment down. "A non-refundable administrative or processing fee
and a face-to-face interview may be required," says Burton.

During the search
Now that we have gotten the expenses out of the way, let's move on to
the apartment itself. Make sure the apartment is in good condition,
the building well lit and elevators operational. It would be great if
there is a security system. If you have windows facing fire escapes
make sure they are locked and secured.

"You should never make agreements for repairs that are the
responsibility of the landlord without some agreement for
compensation i.e discount on the month's rent or direct
reimbursement," says Burton. When you move in, make a checklist of
all the contents and the condition of the apartment so that when
you move out you won't have any problem getting your security deposit
back. Another suggestion is to negotiate a clause in the lease for
the right to sublet if for some reason you have to leave for an
extended period of time i.e work related assignment or sudden
imprisonment.

After you obtain the apartment you have the right to "quiet
enjoyment" meaning your landlord or their designee should not be
running in and out of your place whenever he/she feels like it.
Although they do need access in case you lock yourself out or any
other emergency.


So, now that you are armed with a little real estate knowledge,
sneaky landlords and realtors won't be able to pull the wool over
your eyes. Please let me know how your search went, I may be looking
for a place to crash soon.

ChaChanna Simpson is the publisher and editor of Twentity.com, the
free ezine for twentysomethings, featuring cheap and free events
every Wednesday. Subscribe today at www.twentity.com