Apartment hunting can be a tricky situation for anyone to navigate for a multitude of reasons. From a lack of time to explore every option to having conflicting opinions between potential roommates, apartment hunting can pose plenty of challenges from start to finish. One challenge that many renters may face during their search is not being able to see the rental unit in person prior to signing a lease. For many renters, this option is a last resort and can deter them from signing a lease if they can’t inspect a property before they make the commitment to lease. However, for some renters, renting an apartment sight unseen is unavoidable and their only option. 

If you find yourself having to rent an apartment sight unseen, keep reading for advice to keep in mind prior to signing a lease agreement. 

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Research is your best friend

When you have the ability to tour a rental property prior to signing a lease, you have the benefit of being able to inspect everything with your own eyes. There are no filters or misleading stages that could be found on any online rental listing. 

You can walk around the property and get a feel for the space, from how loud it can get on an average day to seeing how the overall property is maintained on a routine basis. If you are going to be renting an apartment sight unseen, you miss out on these benefits. That’s where research comes in. 

Sure, the online listing or the property’s website may have a digital tour or photos of the property you can use as a basis, but those photos are not going to show the ins and outs of the rental property, especially any negative aspects that the property may have. Those photos were taken to showcase the best of the property and attract potential tenants. 

Rely on external websites or resources to build a profile of the property. Sites like Google Maps could give you a virtual idea of the property’s location, allowing you to virtually explore the surrounding area via Google Street View. You can get an idea of street parking, nearby businesses, and your access to public transportation in relation to your potential apartment. 

Ask for a virtual tour

When you are renting an apartment sight unseen, you will want to make sure you are exploring the property as much as possible without exploring it in person. When you first get in touch with the landlord or property management, ask them to give you a virtual tour of the property via video call. The best method is a virtual walkthrough in that you can ask real-time questions as they come up, similar to the experience you would get if you were touring the rental property in person. 

At the very least, ask for a recorded video tour of the property and note any questions that come up from the tour, or areas you would like a closer look at. 

Get help via professionals or a friend

If you cannot experience an apartment firsthand and have to rent sight unseen, enlist the help of a professional or friend as a second pair of eyes that can go view the apartment in person when you can’t. 

If the area you are looking to rent in is completely unfamiliar to you, working with a realtor can be extremely helpful in finding the right apartment for you even if you are renting it sight unseen. A realtor will know the area a lot more than you will and be able to help you locate an apartment that fits your needs. They can visit the apartment on your behalf and give you a rundown as needed. 

If you don’t want to go through the extra cost and effort of locating a realtor, ask for the help of a friend that is local to the area you are looking to rent with. Not everyone will have this option, especially when moving to an entirely new area where they will not know anyone, but if you do, it is definitely worth considering. 

The friend can go tour the apartment on your behalf, ask questions, and give you a tour via facetime. Friends will also give you the harsh truth, leaving no opinion off the table and giving you a clear picture of your potential apartment. 

When renting an apartment sight unseen, remember to follow your instinct and avoid trusting blindly. If you spot even one red flag along the way, thoroughly investigate before committing to anything. 

Make sure to research as much as you can to get as much information about the apartment as you can without having to actually see it in person. It may seem like more work than if you just visited the apartment in person, but will be well worth it when you end up with an apartment you are satisfied with.