Apartment touring 101: Which questions to ask

Can I have a roommate?

If you think you’d like to share the apartment with a roommate, be sure to ask about roommate rules and regulations and bring your potential roommate with you to the showing.

What are your pet policies?

Even though you’ve narrowed your search to apartments that allow pets, always cover your bases by asking about specific pet policies and deposits or fees.

What should I expect to pay for the first and last month’s rent?

Be clear about the first and last month’s rent policies so that you can budget properly.

How much is the security deposit?

You want to know how much to budget for the security deposit and the cleaning and maintenance requirements to receive your full deposit back at the end of your lease term.

Are utilities included?

Find out what utilities you will be responsible for paying and setting up, and if there are any building amenity utilities included in the price of rent.

What are the parking policies?

Ask if you’ll have a designated parking spot or if parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Most buildings will have an additional fee for reserved parking, so be sure to factor that cost into your monthly budget.

Can I sublet the apartment?

Ask this question in case you have any plans to travel for an extended time and would like to have someone sublet the unit while you’re away.

How do I file a maintenance request?

Ask this question so that you know how to go about the process of filling a maintenance request. Is the request submitted through an online form or via email? How long does it take for a maintenance issue to be resolved?