This post was adapted from Rental Report: When and How You Should Start Your Apartment Search. You can find the original post, here.
In the DC area, good apartments are a hot commodity. Locals may have an advantage when looking to move, as they better know the ins and outs of looking for their next great space.
But for those who are relocating, the process can be very overwhelming. And to add to it, many of our renters are frustrated to learn that they cannot find their apartments as far in advance as they would like. If you know you are moving to here six months from now, when should you start looking for your new DC apartment?
If you are able, come to town a few months out and check out neighborhoods. Narrowing down your search to a few locations you like and can afford prior to looking at actual units helps ease the stress of the search. If you can’t come a few months before your move, try to do some online research. There are plenty of great blogs and websites with information to help you get a feel for certain areas and a realistic budget. Also make sure what you are reading is current.
With all the development happening in this area, new hot spots are popping up all over.
Once you hone in on the neighborhoods in which you are interested, plan to come to town between 30-60 days prior from your move date to find your actual apartment. In Maryland and Virginia, renters are required to give 60 days notice to vacate, so apartment buildings and individual landlords will know their availability within that time. In DC, the window is usually a little smaller with only 30 days notice required by most landlords. This makes it difficult to know which apartment buildings will have available units until the month before you are expecting to move.
When you plan your trip, be ready to rent a unit you like while you are here. More often than not, if you walk away from an apartment you like, it won’t be there a few weeks from now. While you are visiting, be sure to have everything you will need to apply for an apartment.
