Questions to Ask When Apartment Hunting: A Full Guide

Stop treating apartment tours like a first date. You're not trying to impress them. You're about to spend $20,000+. You are the customer. Act like one.

I've been a tenant who got burned and a landlord who's seen tenants get burned. The difference between a good year and a financial nightmare is these 5 questions. Ask them. Write down the answers.

1. "What is the EXACT dollar amount I need to give you to get the keys?"

Do not accept "first, last, and security." That's amateur hour.

You want: "First month: $1,500. Security deposit: $1,500. Non-refundable admin fee: $300. Pet fee: $500. Total move-in cost: $3,800."

If they can't give you the itemized total in 10 seconds, their management is disorganized. That means your repair request will get lost, too.

2. "Can I see the actual lease right now?"

Not a summary. The contract. Flip to three sections:

• Early Termination: What's the buy-out fee? (Often 2 months' rent).
• Auto-Renewal: Does it roll to month-to-month, or lock you in for another year automatically?
• Guest Policy: Some leases limit guests to 14 nights per year. Yes, seriously.

If they say "you see the lease after you're approved," walk away. You don't sign a contract you haven't read.

3. "What's your average response time for a leaking pipe on a Sunday?"

This separates professionals from amateurs.

• Good Answer: "We have a 24/7 emergency line. Our plumber is usually there in 2 hours."
• Bad Answer: "Text the owner. He's usually pretty quick."

Your follow-up: "Is there an online portal for maintenance requests?" A "yes" means they have a system. A "no" means your repair request is a text in a chaotic inbox.

4. "What was the rent for this unit for the last two tenants?"

Don't ask if rent will go up. Find out by how much.

• "Can you tell me the renewal increase history?"
• "What's the typical annual increase percentage?"

If they "don't have that info," they're either hiding a pattern of 20% hikes or they're so disorganized they don't track it. Both are red flags.

5. "What are the three most common reasons you keep security deposits?"

This question isn't about the money. It's a psychology test.

• Good Answer: "Mostly cleaning. We provide a move-in checklist so we're all on the same page. We return deposits within 21 days."
• Bad Answer: "Oh, you know, damage, cleaning... it varies." (Vague = dangerous).

Their answer tells you if they see your deposit as your money or as their eventual income.

🚨 The "Silent Checklist" (Do This While You Talk)

1. Flush every toilet.
2. Turn on every shower—check water pressure and time to hot.
3. Open and close every window.
4. Check your phone signal in the bedroom closet.
5. Listen. Stand in silence for 60 seconds. Hear the highway? The neighbor's dog?

The landlord won't point out the weak water pressure. You have to find it.

😤 "I Ask #3 Because My Apartment Flooded on Christmas Eve."

True story. My kitchen pipe burst. The landlord's "handy" nephew showed up 9 hours later with a wrench and a shrug. The damage cost me $1,200 in ruined belongings. The landlord's "pretty quick" response was a lie.

I don't trust promises anymore. I trust systems. That's why I use Hemlane to manage my own rentals now—so my tenants get automated, tracked maintenance requests with real response times.

(For Landlords/Agents): This is your applicant's fear. Hemlane is your answer. It gives you the 24/7 maintenance portal, the documented request timeline, and the professional lease library that turns their anxiety into confidence. A transparent system is your best closing tool.

Chaotic landlords lose good tenants. Systematized landlords charge a premium for peace of mind. Hemlane is the system.

📋 Your Cheat Sheet (Copy This Now)

1. Move-in Total: $______
2. Lease Buy-Out Fee: ______
3. Emergency Maintenance Contact: ______
4. Last Rent Increase: __%
5. Security Deposit Return Time: __ days

Final, blunt truth: An apartment tour is a business inspection. Your excitement is not a deposit. Your signature is. If the landlord rushes you or dodges these questions, your future self will thank you for walking away.