Apartment Viewing Red Flagsthe full 27-point checklist

The full list (27 items)

1. Water stains or peeling paint on ceilingsSigns of a past or active leak. Ask when it was fixed.
2. A musty smellCan point to moisture or mold behind walls.
3. Large or growing cracks in walls or ceilingsAsk what caused them and who looked at them.
4. Droppings, traps or dead bugs in cornersCheck under sinks and behind the stove.
5. Doors and windows that stick or won't lockA security problem and a heating bill.
6. Broken entry door, buzzer or dim hallwaysShared areas show how the building handles repairs.
7. Weak water pressureRun the shower and sinks at the same time.
8. Slow drainsFill the sink and the tub and watch them empty.
9. Outlets that don't work or feel warmBring a phone charger and test every room.
10. No smoke or carbon monoxide alarmsRequired in many places. Ask who installs and checks them.
11. Heating or AC that won't turn onTest it even if it's the wrong season.
12. Old or broken appliancesAsk who pays for repairs and how fast they happen.
13. No laundry hookups or laundry roomFind out what the options and costs are.
14. Weak cell signal or Wi-Fi dead spotsCheck the bedroom, not just the hallway.
15. Pressure to sign todayA real listing can wait a day. Pressure is a warning.
16. Vague answers about fees, utilities or repairsAsk for every answer in writing.
17. No proof the person owns or manages the placeAsk for a name and check county records or the management site.
18. A price far below similar placesCompare it with other listings of the same size nearby.
19. Requests for cash, wire transfers or gift cardsNever pay before you have seen a lease.
20. A lease with blanks or verbal-only promisesIf it isn't written down, it doesn't count.
21. Lots of unhappy tenant reviewsSearch the address and the landlord's name.
22. Very noisy at certain hoursVisit again at night or on the weekend.
23. Unclear parking or street rulesAsk where you can park and what it costs.
24. A long or unsafe walk to transit or stores at nightWalk it yourself after dark.
25. No clear trash and recycling spotAsk how pickup works and where bins go.
26. Little or no natural lightWindows that face a wall can feel dark all day.
27. The total cost doesn't fit your budgetAdd rent, utilities, parking, pet fees and insurance.

Want the rest of the move-in plan?

The First Apartment Reset Planner is a 16-page printable for moving in and settling in, so the rest of it is not on you to figure out.