Location, Location, Location
Where will you be working? What do you do for fun? What do you want to be close to? These are all very important questions to ask yourself when looking for an apartment. Especially because of how large Destin is. Destin’s traffic can be rather hectic so living close to where you work might benefit you greatly, especially in the summer months. If you are into the bar scene than living closer to the strip might be more your style. Some move here strictly for our beautiful beaches and so living close enough to smell the salty air is where you should be looking.
Budgeting How To’s
Moving can be extremely costly! Consider this when looking at different places to live. You will need to make sure that not only does the monthly payment work into your monthly budget but also think about the startup. You will need to have first and last month’s rent, any pet deposits if needed, moving costs, and then if you are breaking a lease at your current place the fees that come along with that. This section is not meant to stress you out but to remind you what all is involved when it comes to moving. Make sure that you do not move before you are mentally, physically, and financially prepared. Also, make sure that you do not move into a place that is outside of your means. The last thing you want to do is struggle trying to figure out how you are going to make rent for that month.
What is Important to You
I previously mentioned in the first paragraph that you will need to base your location on your needs. This is where you make your checklist. A suggestion would be: the location, pet-friendly, parking areas, and laundry situations might be at the top of your list. These would be what we put at the top of our list as a necessity. This list that is important to you are the things you will not settle on.
Wants are different than needs, we learned this as children. You might want a gym or a pool in your complex but is it a complete deal-breaker for you? These are the tough questions you will need to ask yourself. Deciding this will help you stay within budget and help you narrow down your options based on the necessities you listed previously.
Understanding Your Lease Agreement
This is a huge one that a lot of younger people who begin looking into new apartments mess up on. They sign their lease agreement without asking questions. This leads to a lot of future issues. What happens if you want to break your lease early? What are the penalties? Are they understanding of military situations? You will typically fill out an application, go through a credit check, and pay a small application fee. If you have no credit or bad credit you may require a guarantor which is kind of like having someone co-sign for you. Basically saying you are good for it and will make your payments on time, or they will pay it. The most important thing for first-time renters is to ask questions. You may not be familiar with some of the lingo and that is okay! That is what we are here for.
Renters Insurance
I can not stress this enough!! Please, Please, Please get renters insurance. It is something that can be bundled at most insurance companies with your car insurance and is just a few extra bucks a month. This is something a lot of people skip but could help you more than you know. It covers everything from theft and burglary to fires! This will help you with temporary housing if something were to happen to your home and covers property and personal liability coverage. Remember your coverage depends on your plan, so be sure to ask what your plan covers.
These are just a few tips to help you during your apartment search in beautiful Destin, Fl. If you have questions about our apartments, we are more than happy to help you out. We understand the questions and uncertainties that can occur when renting your first apartment or if it’s been a while and you are rusty on the apartment lifestyle. We are here to help.