Before you go

A tour goes fast. The leasing agent shows you the best features, you like the light in the living room, and twenty minutes later you are back in the car without the answers you needed. Bring this list, on paper or on your phone, and ask the same questions everywhere.

• If you are searching with us, write “AptViva” on the guest card at your first visit.
• Ask to see the actual unit you would rent, or one with the same floor plan, and write down which one you saw.
• Visit at the hour you would usually be home, if you can. The same apartment feels different at 8 a.m. and at 7 p.m.
• Take photos and a short note after each tour, before the next one blurs it.

The apartment itself

These are things you can check with your own hands in a few minutes.

• Run the shower and the kitchen tap. How long does hot water take?
• Open and close the windows and doors. Do they lock?
• Look under the sinks and around the windows for signs of leaks.
• Check where the outlets are, and whether your furniture fits the walls you have.
• Check your phone signal inside the unit.
• Ask how the air conditioning and heating work, and how old the system is.
• Ask how maintenance requests are made, and how emergencies are handled after hours.

The real monthly cost

The advertised rent is rarely the whole number. Ask for it all in writing, so you can compare two places honestly.

• What is the effective rent, after specials, for the unit and lease length I want?
• What is the full rent before the special? Many communities check your income against that one.
• What do I pay to apply, and what do I pay at signing: deposit, admin fee, anything else?
• What is charged every month on top of rent: parking, pets, storage, trash, water or other utilities?
• Which utilities are in my name, and which companies serve this address?

If you have pets, ask for the pet policy in writing: fees, monthly pet rent and any limits. The application fee and the deposit go to the community, not to us; our search stays free.

The lease

• Which lease lengths are available, and does the rent change with the length?
• How much notice do I have to give before I move out, and how?
• What happens at renewal?
• What happens if I need to leave before the lease ends?
• When will I get my copy of the signed lease?

On that last question, Texas law requires the landlord to give a tenant at least one complete copy of the lease within three business days after everyone signs. And on the deposit: the landlord must refund it, or account for what is kept, on or before the 30th day after you move out, but that clock depends on you giving a forwarding address in writing.

The Texas Attorney General publishes a plain guide to renters’ rights, including repairs and deposits, if you want to read further.

Move-in day

• Which day and hour can I get the keys?
• Are there rules for moving in: hours, a loading area, an elevator to reserve?
• Is there a move-in inspection form, and when do I return it?

Those answers matter more than they seem. If your lease qualifies for the included move, waiting for keys or an elevator counts as moving time.

Red flags

A real community shows you the unit, takes applications through its own office or system, and gives you the terms in writing. Be careful when someone cannot show you the place, rushes you, or asks for a wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency for an application fee or a deposit. If a listing feels off, stop and call us before you pay anything.

Comparing places after the tours

When the tours are done, put your notes for each place side by side and score the same five things. It keeps one nice kitchen from deciding the whole year.

1. The commute, timed at the hour you would really drive or ride it.
2. The full monthly cost: effective rent plus every monthly charge.
3. The move-in date: does it match the end of your current lease?
4. The lease terms: length, notice and what happens if plans change.
5. The unit itself: everything you checked with your own hands.

What this list leaves out, on purpose

Every question here is about the home, the money, the lease and the move. None is about who your neighbors are. That is deliberate: fair housing law protects renters, and a good search is built on what fits you, not on who lives somewhere. Read more on our fair housing page.

After your tours, tell us what you liked and what you did not. The list is yours to edit, and we work from what you tell us. Starting out? Read when to start your search.