apartment tour

What to Look for on an Apartment Tour: The Ultimate Checklist

There’s more to finding an apartment than looking at pictures or watching 360-degree video tours. You need to see most places with your own eyes for a realistic picture and inspect it to make sure it’s up to scratch. With so many things to inspect, it helps to have an apartment inspection checklist to help you know what to look for in an apartment tour. That way, you’re not scrambling to remember everything at just a moment’s notice.

Next time you’re apartment hunting and going on an apartment walkthrough, use this apartment tour checklist to stay organized and make sure you don’t miss a thing.

The reason for apartment touring

Apartment viewing isn’t only for getting a sneak peek into what life could be like living in the space. You need to make sure the rental unit looks nice but is also secure, livable and in good condition. You don’t want to sign a lease simply because of the indoor gym or unit’s square footage — you need to diligently inspect your prospective home, so you don’t end up with a raw deal.

what to look for in an apartment tour

How long do apartment tours take?

Most apartment tours aren’t going to take up too much of your time. If you’re prepared with an apartment walkthrough checklist, it’ll streamline the process even more because you know exactly what to look for.

Depending on the square footage and whether your tour includes building amenities, schedule around an hour, on average, to see the unit and get a feel for the entire area. Try to include a quick walk around the block on your tour to make sure the apartment you like is in a neighborhood you love.

You might also want to bring with you the paperwork you’d need to fill out a rental application. If you love the place and worry it might get snatched up, having your checkbook, a pay stub from work, your last bank statement and your photo ID with you allows you to complete an application on the spot.

The perfect apartment tour checklist

The goal of a new apartment tour is to be thorough and check everything. To make the most out of the visit, bring this checklist with you. Going room by room, this helpful breakdown ensures you won’t miss a thing.

couple looking out window

Everywhere

There are a few general apartment tour checklist items that belong in every room. These can raise some major red flags if you know what to look for in an apartment tour, so in addition to room-specific checks, investigate the following things in each room.

  • Check floors, walls and ceiling for any water damage, mold, mildew, water stains, etc.
  • Open and close every window. They shouldn’t be hard to open. Each window should also have a screen for safety.
  • Make sure all doors open and close securely
  • Use a phone charger to verify that all electrical outlets have power
  • Test all light switches and light fixtures to make sure they all work
  • Check smoke alarms and ask whether there’s a sprinkler system
  • Does the apartment come with fire extinguishers? How long until their expiration date?
  • Are there smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in most rooms? Do they work properly?

kitchen cabinets are something to look for in an apartment tour

Kitchen

Between the plumbing and the appliances, the two major issues hiding in a kitchen are leaks and broken items. That’s why it’s essential to know what to look for in an apartment tour and test everything. Even if you feel silly running an empty dishwasher, give the kitchen a strict once-over.

While you’re in there making sure everything works, don’t forget to evaluate the space. You want to make sure there’s enough room for all your stuff.

Sink

For starters, run the kitchen faucet to check the water pressure and that both hot water and cold water work. Make sure you can’t hear any strange sounds when the water is on, either. You should also check under the kitchen sink for leaks, and make sure the garbage disposal works properly.

Storage

Open all cabinets to check storage space and make sure there’s no evidence of unwanted pests. If you notice what looks like spilled sesame seeds or rice inside any cabinet, it most likely means there’s a mouse problem, not a messy tenant.

Appliances

Turn on all kitchen appliances to make sure they work and are in good shape. This includes the stove, oven, microwave and dishwasher. Make sure the stove and oven get hot when turned on, and that you know whether you’re cooking with gas or electricity.

If there’s an issue down the road, knowing what your stove runs on can make it easier to troubleshoot. Don’t forget to open the fridge and freezer, too, and check their temperatures.

bedroom

Bedroom

Most of your bedroom checks should revolve around space. Is the room itself large enough for your furniture or will you need a smaller bed? If you’re concerned about size, take the room’s measurements so you can do some quick calculations later on at home.

Other than that, the closet is your biggest checklist item.

Closet

Confirm there’s an actual closet in your bedroom. Technically, a bedroom consists of any room with a window, closet and door that closes, but there’s a little wiggle room on the closet requirement. If you don’t have one, see if a wardrobe will fit into the room or if there’s a corner you can designate as a closet. Pictures are often misleading, so check inside the closet to see how big it really is. Does it have enough room for all your clothes? If not, is there storage or more space elsewhere?

Heating, cooling and airflow

If you don’t have central air-conditioning, ask about whether you can install a window AC unit. Bedrooms get hot at night in the summer, and you’ll want the airflow.

If there’s a ceiling fan, check to make sure all speeds work.

bathroom faucets are something to look for in an apartment tour

Bathroom(s)

We often get caught up in how a bathroom looks rather than if everything is working right. But it’s a great place for hidden issues if you know what to look for in an apartment tour. Whether you get a tub or shower or have a lot of space or a little, it’s more important that the water does what it should throughout.

Sink, toilet, shower and tub

Turn on all faucets. Water should run clear with good water pressure. Make sure hot and cold work. This includes the tub, shower head and sink. Make sure everything drains properly, and flush the toilet to make sure it works.

Any weird noises?

Listen carefully each time you turn something on to make sure there are no strange noises coming from the pipes.

Leaks, water damage and other issues

Open cabinets and check for any standing water. A leak can hide under the sink. Check around the base of the toilet (after you flush) for water leaks, as well.

Check to make sure your shower head is firmly in the wall and ask if you can change it out yourself if you don’t like what’s up there.

Don’t forget the floor and walls

Eyeball the tile and grout to make sure you don’t see any cracks or chips.

Living space

Living space

This includes checking out all the “other” spaces in your apartment. The living room is for sure, but there are also a few things to watch out for in the front entry, namely, how safe your front door is.

Doors

Test the locks on the front door for security. If there’s not already a deadbolt or chain, ask if it’s OK to install one for added safety.

Noise levels

Check for how sound carries. As you’re in the living area, ask the property manager, or whoever else is on the tour with you, to go into another room and say something close to a normal level. If you can hear them, the walls are probably on the thin side.

This isn’t an issue for everyone. But if you’re living with a roommate or have kids, it could pose a major problem.

Laundry facilities

If the apartment or complex has laundry facilities, you’ll want to double-check those as well. Look around and under the washers and dryers for stains, water damage, mold and mildew.

Asking to run a load of laundry to see if the appliances are actually working may be going too far, but you can at least ask if the landlord can turn them on.

If the unit only has laundry hook-ups, check that the space looks clean and the hook-ups don’t appear broken.

building and neighborhood is something to look for in an apartment tour

The building and neighborhood

An apartment is about more than the actual unit you’ll call home. You should feel just as comfortable in the building and surrounding area as you do inside the apartment.

Try to visit the property both during the day and when it’s dark to get a complete picture of the neighborhood and the building itself.

Parking

What is the parking situation? Verify you’ll have a place to park and that guests won’t have to struggle to find parking.

Noise levels

Be aware of the noise level both in the apartment and throughout the complex. If you can hear what feels like too much noise as you’re walking through, you’ll definitely hear it when you live there.

Mass transit like a busy bus stop or subway station can also cause a racket. Is there public transportation close by? How loud or disruptive is it?

Safety and security

You want to make sure you’d feel safe in your new building and neighborhood. So before renting an apartment and choosing it as your next home, take a spin around the area to see what safety features it may have.

Look at the lighting to make sure common hallways, parking areas and the property, in general, look bright enough. Does the complex have a security system or specific security features like security guards, cameras and security gates, among other things?

If the unit has a balcony, you’ll want to make sure it can be secured as well. Make sure the access door is in good working order and locks tightly. If you’re on the ground floor, ask about safety. Walk out onto the balcony and make sure it feels sturdy. You also want to do a noise check out here. Is it too noisy to enjoy a quiet, morning cup of coffee?

Shared amenities

Check out all the shared amenities to make sure things look clean and well maintained. Also, take note of what’s available. The amenities could put an apartment over the top when it comes to making your final choice.

Questions about the unit and apartment complex

Your apartment checklist should also include a list of questions to ask the landlord. In addition to making sure the unit is in good condition, you want to find the best apartment for your needs and budget.

For starters, ask basic questions like what is the cost of rent, what are the lease terms, when is the move-in date, is there a grace period for late rent and how much is the security deposit.

Then you can move on to questions more specific to your situation. For example, if you have a pet, you can ask if they charge pet rent or what their pet policies are.

If you notice an issue, point it out to the property manager or landlord

If you find something you’re concerned about, but really love the apartment overall, don’t hesitate to point it out to the manager or property owner. If you’re doing a self-guided tour, you can also take pictures for evidence.

Most likely, they’ll want to address the problem to prevent having trouble renting the place in the future. If they agree to any modifications or improvements, make sure they’re written into the lease.

On the flip side, the property manager may disagree with your assessment and refuse to make a change. That’s another red flag on the apartment, and it’s time to walk away to the next apartment.

Be thorough with your apartment tour checklist

You’ll most likely look at multiple apartments before settling on the right one. This apartment inspection checklist to know what to look for on your apartment tour, plus a close eye and attention to detail, will help you find the right well-maintained, safe apartment for you on your next apartment hunt.

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