There are several things a person is going to need to know in order to get their rent as cheap as possible for their apartment. The first thing is to set a budget. Typically, this means that you will need to make sure your rent is no more than 30 percent of your income. Once you have figured this out, you’ve made the most important decision and every other decision will be simplified.

1. What and Where

Avoid using a broker, because they charge exorbitant fees. Instead, look in local newspaper ads, apartmentpublications, college bulletin boards, and on Craigslist. Next, be sure to find a neighborhood you’ll enjoy and feel comfortable in. To make sure of this, visit said neighborhood during both the day and night, and do a few Google searches to see if there are any hidden crime problems you’re unaware of.

2. Extras

Determine what is included in your rent. This could include heat, water, electricity, cable or satellite, and/or internet. Then, when you know what’s NOT included, figure out how much the average utility bills are. The landlord should be able to tell you these numbers. Never sign a lease without knowing this, because you could really be hurting if you don’t!!

3. Details

Make sure that you read every little detail in the lease before you sign it. This means that you will also need to get a copy of all the rules and regulations. There are a few things that you are going to want to look for beyond this, including the beginning and end of the lease, the amount of the security deposit, reasons why the landlord could end the lease, and penalties that might occur if you move out before the lease is over. For instance, if there’s a chance you’ll move early, you don’t want to be charged a month of rent to find a sublease. Furthermore, you don’t want to find out when you move out that you weren’t supposed to drill holes in the wall!

4. Inspections

Make sure that you inspect the apartment before you sign the lease. This is important because you want to look for any damage that can be fixed before you move in, ensuring that you are not going to have to pay for those damages later on. You are also going to want to make sure that the landlord does not have access to yourapartment when you are not there. A person should always be notified before the landlord shows up at their apartment. It’s the law, and if you sign that right away, you could potentially end up in a “gotcha” situation, where your landlord isn’t happy with the state of cleanliness or a houseguest.

5. Negotiations
Try to negotiate your lease. This is usually a lot easier if you know your landlord or at least some basic information about the deal. For instance, if you know that the area is close to a dangerous part of town or you know that the windows are drafty, you could use this to your advantage. They may not lower the rent, but they may agree to take care of some repairs or comp you some extra expenses.

Nolan Gellar likes to write about real estate, saving money & www.grouphealthinsurance.org.