so its that time in the life of a young man/
lady where independence comes knocking
and the idea of moving out of the family
house and into your own apartment pops up;
or you are tired of your present apartment
and want a change but you are blank as to
how to go about the process of getting that
apartment of choice in a specific area/
neighbourhood, the steps that would be
discussed shortly should serve as a guide to
getting that desired apartment.
Although the excitement of moving out and
getting your first apartment could be
overwhelming, it is worthy of note that the
process isn’t exactly an enjoyable one;not
trying to scare you here though. Enough of
the small talks and let’s go into the main
details:


PLANNING: The process of renting an
apartment is sometimes a lengthy one,
therefore adequate planning and research
bothering on what fits your need and budget
is a necessary factor. Definitely at this point,
you already have a clue as to what you desire/
want of your new apartment as regards size,
neighborhood/location, accessibility and
other ancillary services/facilities but it is key
to put into consideration your financial
capability. You wouldn’t want to skip the
planning stage and go falling in love with
that apartment of which you don’t have the
means financially to move into. It could be
pretty devastating you know! As the saying
goes “failing to plan, is planning to fail”.


THE SEARCH: Being 80% sure as to what you
desire/need in an apartment and knowing
exactly what you can afford financially, the
next step would be to go in search for it.
There are numerous ways of carrying out
your search. Going through property listings
online and in the dailies is a good place to
start. Also during your movements across
town, try looking out for “TO LET”signs on
buildings or in neighborhoods that appeal to
you and place a call to them to find out more
about the property.
During your spare time, you could also take a
stroll or drive within selected neighborhoods
of choice and make enquiries on available
spaces/apartments and rental trends. Do not
underestimate the power of networking
among colleagues and friends; a word about
your search to them could help speed it up.
This stage is sometimes the longest and
usually hectic and due to busy schedules, a lot
of people do not really have time to do the
search on their own: it is advisable to consult
and engage the services of a Real Estate
agent/Realtor and not quacks or charlatans.
Beware of so called estate agents who charge
money to carryout search and conduct
inspections. To speak with a Real Estate agent
about your needs, click http://zirconrealty..nl/2016/10/meeting-you-property-needs.html?m=1


INSPECTION/RECONNAISSANCE : when you
must have gotten a series of feedback that fits
your requirement or taste from the real estate
agent after he must have conducted the
search on your behalf, the next step would be
to make out time to see the sought out
apartments. Ensure you have several
inspections of different apartments/spaces
before you make your final decision. It is
unwise to base your final decision on just one
inspection.
Inspection basically involves taking a walk-
through with the landlord or his managing
agent in an apartment that is up for rent. The
idea in inspecting the space/apartment is to
have a thorough look before you take
possession. This affords you the opportunity
to take note of pre-existing problems within
the apartment which needs to be rectified
before moving in; otherwise, the landlord
may try to make you pay for these damages
later on.
Essential things to look out for includes cracks
in the wall or floor/tile, stains on wall or
floors, leaking roofs and pipes, faulty light
points/sockets etc. Take note of utilities/
facilities available in the apartment ranging
from the source of water, electricity and if
available gas supply.
Another angle under the inspection is
“reconnaissance” which involves you
carrying out your private investigations
before paying for the apartment to avoid
future problems that could affect your stay in
the apartment. Take a visit to the premises
on a later date, find out more as regards the
experiences from other tenants living there if
any before finalizing. If it is a detached
house/apartment, try to snoop around get any
information on if there is some form of
encumbrance by the government or
immediate family on the property. You
wouldn’t want to lose both your money and
the apartment as a result of these.
You should also demand for the evidence of
the latest payment of utility bills on the
apartment/space so as not to incur the bills of
the previous occupant.


SIGNING THE LEASE: the lease basically is a
contractual agreement between the landlord
and the tenant and once signed, it becomes
binding on both parties. It is very important
that you read through the whole document.
Make sure that all terms and conditions stated
in the lease agreement are exactly what was
discussed initially when making enquires. If
the document isn’t clear enough to you, ask
questions about anything unsure. Consulting
with an attorney or a colleague familiar with
such is advisable.


Conclusion : Do not rush into getting an
apartment without taking the proper steps
and get trapped in an unfavorable tenancy of
1-2 years; it could really be troublesome.
The above steps may seem lengthy and
tedious, but it is worth the time.


If you have any personal experiences or
contributions, please do share them in the
comment section below. You never can tell,
you might just be helping someone out there.


For assistance on getting an apartment/space
for rent either for residential or commercial
purpose in Lagos, click http://zirconrealty..nl/2016/10/meeting-you-property-needs.html?m=1