Many people, when looking for an apartment, want to find one that they can hang onto for many years. We are all familiar with the hassles of moving. Until you are ready to buy something much more permanent, apartment living is just the thing for many of us. This is especially true for students attending college in your area or employees on temporary assignment for their company in a community different from the one they live in.

There are just a few rules and not a long checklist that will be helpful as you look over your potential living space. The first and most important rule is that you actually walk through the apartment you want to rent, and not a model of one just like it. In this way you can point out to the landlord any items that need to be replaced or maybe just repaired. You will not be held responsible for any of these problems at a later time. Now, let’s take a look at that checklist:

1) Make sure there are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in place and working.

2) Check under the kitchen and bathroom sinks to determine if there are any leaks in the plumbing. Take a look at the toilet and faucets for leaks, too. It sure wouldn't hurt to turn on the faucet to see if the water pressure and tempurature are satisfactory. (If there is an in-unit water heater there is less chance that you will run out of hot water, but these units are few and far between. There is usually one water heater shared by multiple units.)

3) Look at all the appliances in the unit to make sure they work properly. If there is not a washer or dryer in the unit you might rent, make sure the area they are in is well lit and only accessible to those who live in the building.

4) Check for any evidence that there may be unwanted rodents (you know who I am talking about) or insects inside of drawers and closets.

5) Look for any water damage, this could bring about future mold problems (peeling paint or wall paper might be another indication of this).

6) Locks and doors should open and close easily.

7) Whatever you do, don’t rush the inspection.

After the deposit is paid and the lease signed, you may not have extra cash to decorate your new place, putting your own personal stamp on it. With just a little imagination, you can always glam it up a bit without spending loads of money.

You can get inexpensive furniture at a thrift shop or some ready to assemble furniture at a local discount store. There are these new no-sew pillows that are available at craft stores that help change the look of a couch or chair from drab to fab. And you can always decorate the walls with some family photos or even some of those wall decals in the shape of flower or other cool objects. Just make it your own. This is going to be your new home for some time and you want to be comfortable and happy here.