What to Check During an Apartment Tour Before You Sign
Can Okan
Tentunit Editorial
Start With the Bedroom
Your bedroom is probably where you will spend more time than anywhere else.
Check:
- Room size
- Closet space
- Natural light
- Number of outlets
- Desk space
- Furniture
- Window condition
- Heating and air conditioning
If the apartment is furnished, ask whether the furniture you are seeing is exactly what comes with the unit.
Test Your Phone Signal
It sounds minor until you move in.
Check your phone inside:
- Bedroom
- Living room
- Kitchen
Poor cellular coverage can become frustrating, especially if Wi-Fi ever goes down.
Ask About Internet
For students, internet is not optional.
Ask:
- Is internet included?
- Who is the provider?
- What speed is available?
- Is Wi-Fi already installed?
- Is there an additional fee?
If multiple roommates will be streaming, gaming, and attending online classes simultaneously, internet quality matters.
Look at the Kitchen Carefully
Do not just notice whether the kitchen looks nice.
Check what you will actually use.
Open the refrigerator.
Look inside the cabinets.
Ask whether the appliances shown during the tour are included.
Check for:
- Refrigerator
- Oven
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Cabinet space
- Counter space
Four roommates sharing one tiny cabinet can become annoying surprisingly quickly.
Inspect the Bathroom
Look for obvious signs of maintenance problems.
Pay attention to:
- Water pressure
- Drainage
- Mold
- Ventilation
- Storage
- Shower condition
You can even turn on the faucet.
It is better to notice problems during the tour than after move-in.
Check Laundry
Ask whether laundry is:
- Inside the unit
- Inside the building
- In another building
Also ask whether it costs extra.
For a student apartment, in-unit laundry can be a major convenience.
Listen
Spend a few seconds doing nothing.
Seriously.
Listen for:
- Traffic
- Neighbors
- Construction
- Elevators
- Parties
- Street noise
An apartment may look perfect in photos while sitting directly above a loud nightlife area.
Whether that is good or bad depends entirely on you.
Look at Security
Pay attention to how you entered the building.
Ask about:
- Building access
- Apartment locks
- Package delivery
- Guest access
- Cameras
- Parking security
You should understand who can enter the building and how.
Ask About Maintenance
Things eventually break.
Ask how maintenance requests are submitted.
Find out whether there is:
- An online portal
- Emergency maintenance
- After-hours support
- Typical response time
Good maintenance can make a major difference in your housing experience.
Check Transportation
Think about your real daily routine.
How will you get to class?
Walk outside and check:
- Walking distance
- Bike route
- Bus stop
- Parking
- Traffic
A five-minute difference on Google Maps can feel much larger in bad weather.
Ask What Is Actually Included
The beautiful furniture or television you see may belong to the current tenant or model unit.
Ask exactly what your apartment includes.
Never assume.
Take Photos
If permitted, take your own photos or short videos during the tour.
After seeing several apartments in one day, they begin to blend together.
Your photos make comparison much easier later.
Do Not Let the Tour Rush You
Student housing can move quickly.
That does not mean you should stop asking questions.
The goal is not to find the first acceptable apartment.
The goal is to find a place that works for your daily life.
Search Beyond the Photos
Housing listings are the beginning of the process, not the end.
Use them to create a shortlist, then verify the details that matter most to you.
Explore Student Housing With Tentunit
Tentunit helps students discover housing and sublease opportunities built around college life.
Find potential places, compare your options, and make a more informed housing decision.
Find your next place with Tentunit.
