#1. Don’t rush things! Take your time when searching for an apartment. We know that the process can sometimes be stressful, but choosing the place you will be living is a very important decision, and should not be taken lightly. You don’t want to regret your decision later!

#2. Determine your price range ahead of time. It’s best to figure out what price you can afford for your new place, before you even start looking. If you decide the most you can afford is $900 a month, make sure you stick to that, and don’t bother looking at apartments above that price range. You don’t want to end up renting an apartment outside of your budget and be forced to eat top ramen 3 meals a day.

#3. Find out what utilities will cost. This is very important because it can make a big difference in your monthly payments. Find out if utilities are included in your rent, and if not, what you can expect your monthly utility bill to be.