Atlanta Apartments

When you need to move to a new Atlanta apartment, you may find yourself hunting for a rental by telephone. Whether the place you are moving to is just across town, or two states away, the phone can help you cut down on a lot of legwork. It’s not as difficult as you may think to find a place you will love while doing most of the looking by long distance.

Begin the Search

First you will need to narrow down the area that would be best for you to live in. Is it most important for you to live close to your work? Or would you rather have convenient access to parks, gyms, or nature trails? Use online resources and maps to help pinpoint one or two attractive parts of town that will fit your needs. Next, you need to find some rental properties in the area. Since most real estate web sites are searchable, they can be a big help for narrowing down your choices to the neighborhoods you have in mind. Take advantage of pictures of the properties you can see online as well as listed amenities. If a pool or on-site laundry is a must-have for you, you can limit your search to include only those complexes.

Using the Phone

After you have laid the groundwork, you are ready to pick up the phone. The first thing you need to ask a prospective landlord is if he has the type of unit you want, and if it is available for the date you need to move in. No matter what other information you learn through your phone call, it won’t help you if there is not a vacancy when you need it. If you have a pet you will also need to inquire about the policy regarding animals on the premises. This is probably a make-or-break situation if you have a furry friend in your family, so make it one of your first questions. You can also use the phone to find out the criteria the landlord uses to pick his renters. Do you have to earn 3 times the rent? Or have a perfect credit rating? Or provide references from a previous landlord? If any of these policies are set in stone and you don’t meet them, you will know not to waste any more time on the property.

If you get satisfactory answers on the first three items, go on to other matters. You can get a lot of valuable information from a manager if you ask him what people like about living there. The answer to that question may tell you whether it is a highly social community, if it is quiet and peaceful, or if there is a good playground, hiking trail or fitness center close by. You should also inquire whether most of the current tenants consist of families, students, young professionals, or a combination. If you have an idea who your prospective neighbors are, you can better predict whether their schedules and lifestyles will complement your own. Be sure to ask if there are any move-in specials going on and what the total cost will be for the unit you are interested in, including deposits and utilities.

If you are still interested in the place after all these questions, the final matter you should discuss over the phone would be setting up a time to see the Atlanta apartment. You will probably still have to visit the place to be sure it is where you want to live, but you will have saved yourself a lot of time and energy by using your phone in advance.