There is so much to try to negotiate and worry about when you are looking for an apartment to rent long term.
It would be a lot easier if you were only renting because you needed an immediate place to stay with plans to purchase your own home, but I am planning to rent for nearly the rest of my life.
That being said, there are things to consider when looking for a rental apartment that you might be living in. When it comes to appearance, the layout and design of the apartment are important. You also must be careful with the HVAC unit that your apartment has installed. Air conditioning may be optional, but a proper furnace is definitely important. You should ask the landlord how often their HVAC unit is serviced or inspected. You should also ask for the age of the furnace. If the furnace is more than a decade old, you may experience a malfunction or completely breakdown in the near future. Do you know if your landlord will pay for the service or replacement of the furnace if it ever comes to that? You also should look at the efficiency of the furnace. If it costs a lot to operate, it may not be within your budget to rent that apartment. Instead, look for an apartment with a newer and efficient furnace that will last you a while and save you money on the bills every month. Finally, consider the type of furnace. I prefer electric over gas because I don’t want to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning. Have fun apartment hunting!