Whether you’re in a hurry to relocate or have the benefit of time on your side to do a thorough search and be picky, you’ll want to pay attention to these red flags so you don’t settle for something that will cause you to be miserable.
If you’re touring an apartment and you notice peeling paint, old cloudy windows, water damage, stained carpet or other maintenance issues it may be a sign that the apartment management isn’t very responsive to maintenance issues and doesn’t put much emphasis on upkeep.
In older buildings peeling paint can be a health hazard if the paint is lead-based. If you have old windows you could lose valuable heat, which in turn will lead to a costly energy bill. Typically, apartments will get a touch-up paint job, carpet cleaning or new carpet if needed.
Chances are if there are issues in the apartment that haven’t been taken care of, they probably won’t be once you move in.
Apartments in Chico, Redding and the surrounding areas in Northern California will have a general rental agreement that is a requirement before moving in. This documents contains things like rent amount and when it’s due, whether it’s a month to month agreement or a lease, if you have pets and the extra costs associated, what the property management is responsible for (water, garbage, maintenance, etc.), resident responsibilities (move-out notice, security deposit, etc.), and other complex-specific details.
If you try to negotiate different aspects of the rental agreement, but the manager is unwilling to budge on any issue, it may not be the place for you.
For example, let’s say there's an extra $100 cost a month to have a pet, but you have a very low maintenance hamster. If the manager is unwilling to come down on the extra cost for something as silly as that, then they probably won’t be very flexible when it comes to bigger situations.
When searching for apartments in Chico or Redding, the first thing you want to do is determine what kind of neighborhood you’ll be living in. Check out the surroundings (think living next to a liquor store versus a coffee shop), crime rates and community statistics, and whether it’s next to a busy road or in more of a residential neighborhood.
It’s also a good idea to drive through the apartment complex and around the neighborhood at different times during the day to see what kinds of things you observe. If you generally have a bad feeling then cross that apartment off your list.
When it comes to the apartment itself do a general walk of the grounds and make a mental note of what you notice.
If there’s a playground and you see a lot of toys and kids around, but you’re hoping for a quiet location to focus on studying, then it’s maybe not a good place for you.
The opposite is also true. If you’re looking for an active complex that schedules activities and a place to meet new people, check the activity calendar or complex newsletter to see what’s going on. If you feel comfortable, try even talking to a few of your potential neighbors to get a first-hand experience of the culture of the complex.
These are just 3 big signs that certain apartments in Chico, Redding or the surrounding areas in Northern California might not be right for you -- but you’ll know if it’s a good place for you to live or not. Just listen to your gut, ask good questions, and don’t settle. This is your home we’re talking about after all.