If you’ve just started looking for an apartment and this process seems intimidating, there’s plenty of online resources to guide your way to an apartment in Columbus (or wherever) that you’ll feel good about.
On various apartment finder sites (including apartments.com), you’ll find numerous helpful articles about navigating the apartment search process. Meanwhile, many individual rental property companies host websites with advanced search capabilities.
One piece from last spring on apartments.com explains in detail how to look for an apartment online. It should save you the trouble of schlepping around town (and during a continuing pandemic!) looking at apartments. The piece included advice from property managers and rental experts on finding that ideal apartment virtually. Their advice applies just as well to apartment hunting in Boston or San Francisco as it would here in Columbus.
Ask for Video or Photos of Your Future Rental
In one piece of advice, the article suggested asking for a video of an apartment that you’re interested in. Question the landlord or property manager about whether the video they’re providing shows the actual apartment you’re interested in. It might show a generic model that “sort of” fits the one you want more information about.
While 3D tours and photos can provide helpful information, you’ll be better served if you can view the exact apartment or rental house you’ve settled on. Don’t feel bad about asking for this sort of record. You’re looking at a major investment over a potentially lengthy period of time. Increasingly these days, rental property managers are adding video records of their properties as more and more renters request them. Yet, many property managers still depend on tried-and-true photo galleries to showcase their properties. If these pictures indeed depict the rental you’ve expressed interest in, that should be sufficient for your purposes.
Can You Trust the Landlord?
This might seem like a no-brainer but it can’t be repeated too many times. Trusting your future landlord is essential for this business relationship to work. On the Internet these days, one can get a feel for the business practices and reputation of just about anyone you’re considering doing business with, including landlords. You can find reviews of rental property companies, as well as researching the neighborhood and community where your future Columbus apartment is located. Don’t fear asking the property manager for testimonials, credentials and recommendations. If you happen to know anyone who formerly rented from a particular landlord, ask them how things worked out while they rented from that company or person.
How Much Can You Do Online?
Choosing a rental company that provides ample online services doesn’t just apply to the search process. In recent years, rental property managers have shifted much of the process to the virtual world. This includes signing the lease online, online applications and screening, and paying the rent online. This shift to virtual everything doesn’t just help renters. It also fine-tunes the process, from beginning to end, for landlords and property managers.
At Some Point, You Actually Have to Move In
Of course, the online process only goes so far. At some point you’ll have to enter the physical realm and actually move into your new apartment. You should understand the process that your new rental property company has for move-ins. Ask for a clear explanation of that process, preferably in writing. Increasingly, the move-in process is handled electronically with keys in lockboxes and as little human contact as possible. With some apartments, this works with tenant portals for online rental payments, service requests, etc. But this shouldn’t imply an absence of assistance. Most rental property companies will be glad to iron out any issues that arise during the move-in process.
Renting Online Works
As with anything, the revolution in online renting hit bumps in the road at first. As years have passed and rental companies have improved the process, it has become simpler and more seamless. With the rest of the world shifting toward virtual operations – goosed along by the social distancing forced by the Covid-19 pandemic – why wouldn’t the same thing happen with the rental process?