Tales of a software guy looking for an apartment!
One of the hardest things about working in the technology industry is when you get transferred and have to move your residence. Recently I was transferred to the Dallas Texas area and did not know where I wanted to love having worked at Facebook in Northern California in the past Dallas Texas was about this for them to me as moving to the planet Mars.
Location – you’re going to be living in your new apartment for a while, so consider the location. I was looking for a great place to live in the Richardson, TX area.
Always make sure to ask yourself; Is it easy to get in and out? Is it close to school/work/the grocery store? Is the neighborhood safe? Will there be a problem with noise/light? (No one ever considers whether a street light will be shining in their window, but I suggest that you take a look around) Even if the immediate street looks safe, take a drive around. I once lived on a pretty nice-looking street, but only a few streets away was a pretty bad neighborhood, and my car eventually got broken into. Try visiting the place during the day, during the evening, and on the weekend. Your street may look quiet on Tuesday morning but turn into party central on Friday nights. Also consider your apartment’s location in the larger building. Is it on the second floor? Around back? Near the entryway, where other tenants will be tromping past, or over your head, at all times of day and night?
Being a software guy working at Facebook looking for an apartment was pretty foreign to me so the first place I started was on the Internet but I quickly learned there are some other great things that you should look for in an apartment besides their Facebook page or their web presence or web portal.
one of the first things that I did when I found my new apartment complex which was in Richardson Texas was I did a walk-through of the potential apartment before I moved in. Always insist that your landlord let you see the actual apartment that you will be renting it and not a model the folks at the apartment complex that I listed in Richardson Texas were awesome they were so nice and gave me a complete unit for there was really nothing in my unit that needed to be repaired or replaced but if you are shopping for new apartment you want to see the unit first.
Also it’s a good idea to make sure that the apartment you are looking for whether it’s in Dallas or anywhere else has sufficient safety features including smoke detectors the proper fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors you always want to look inside the apartment as well as the hallways and other common areas.
As I was looking for apartments in richardson tx I found an amazing complex that you will want to make sure that you always check out the faucets toilets and the pipes under the kitchen cabinets for any potential legs and plumbing because you may be at a complex that wasn’t as nice as the one that I found. Another great ideas check the water pressure in the unit also check the water temperature and make sure the water is warm enough for you that’s quite honestly a simple fix as easy as is telling the landlord to reset the boiler unit in the unit now if they have Central water heating water temperatures a whole Nother story and a lot harder to adjust.
You also want to make sure that all the appliances in the apartment that you were looking for work properly are not damaged if there is not a washer and dryer asked to see the common laundry area this makes a big difference I particularly like to move into an apartment with a washer and dryer or at the very least washer dryer hookups.
Don’t rush through your inspection of your potential new apartment. Be thorough and take your time. After all, it will be your home for at least the next year, make sure you choose a place that you know you’ll be happy with.


