If you’re a college student and you don’t plan to commute, looking for Boulder apartments for rent is a priority. Many colleges have dorms, but if you’d rather not live in a dorm, you’ll have to find affordable housing elsewhere. As a college student, chances are that this is your first time renting an apartment on your own.
For first-time renters, the whole process can be a bit confusing. How do you know what to expect? How do you know what is included? What will you have to pay? It can be scary and exciting all at the same time.
At Boulder Property Management, we know that this can be overwhelming. There are a lot of things going through your mind. We also know that you have a lot of questions, and that’s why we have included 7 of the most important questions that you should ask when you are looking for Boulder apartments for rent.
How Do You Handle Security Deposits for Boulder Apartments for Rent?
This is arguably the most important factor you’ll want to know when you are looking for an apartment. You will need to know how much money you are going to need upfront. Boulder Property Management charges 1 1/2 to 2 months’ security deposit, and this is not included in the rental rate.
What if I Study Abroad or Have to Leave?
You never know what is going to happen while you’re renting. You want to choose an apartment that will allow subletting. Boulder Property Management does allow subletting if everyone is leaving the apartment. You have to find suitable replacements for taking over the financial liability of the apartment until the end of the lease. Sublessees must fill out a rental application before submitting them for approval screening. If approved, the new tenants and vacating tenants must meet to sign the documents.
What If I Have an Entire House Full of People?
There are various zoning laws in Boulder. It’s important to know the zoning laws for each area because zoning laws explain how many people can legally live in a house or apartment. The number of people that can live in a single place together isn’t determined by how many bedrooms are in an apartment. For example, if there’s a house with 5 bedrooms in it that is zoned for just 4 people, that means only 4 people are allowed to be on the lease. That final bedroom can be used as a common area, study or another option.
What if I am Just One Person & Need to Find Roommates?
If you are looking for an apartment but you want to find someone to share the expenses with, you want to ask your landlord how that works. You want to know what needs to be done and what forms need to be signed. The Boulder Property Management team will try to find someone else in a similar situation that you can potentially share an apartment or house with, but we cannot make any promises.
It’s also important to know what happens if someone wants to leave the lease. With Boulder Property Management, there’s something that is called a roommate change. The person who is leaving has to find a new roommate, and all of the roommates on the lease have to approve of the new person.
How Soon can I Pre-lease for Next Year?
If you know that you are moving to an area next year and you want to start looking for an apartment or house to rent, one of the things you’ll want to know is when you can pre-lease. We base our leasing schedule around a school calendar. Most of the leases go from July-July or August-August. Even though there isn’t any set date when pre-leasing starts, it will usually start from October-November.
What Utilities are Included and How do I Pay Them?
Different apartment complexes have different costs for their utilities. Some of them put include utilities in the rental prices while others put the cost of the utilities on the renters.
Boulder Property Management does not include utilities in the rent. The information about utilities is in the lease. Some have a monthly rate for their utilities, while others pay a part of the utility bills of the whole building. Look at the unit’s appliances and see whether they’re electric or gas. Appliances that run on gas are usually less expensive to run when compared with electric. If there are no laundry facilities in your apartment itself, how much does it cost to use them?
How is Rent Handled?
If, until now, you’ve lived with your parents, there’s a good chance this is your first time paying rent. So it’s important to understand the rent expectations of the place you’re renting. Paying your rent on time will not only help you have a good relationship with your landlord but also help your credit score. You will want to know upfront when rent is due if there’s a grace period, what forms of payment are accepted and what the penalty is for being late. At Boulder Property Management, rent is due on the 28th of the month and there’s a grace period until the 1st. Rent is deemed late on the 2nd, and there’s an extra charge of $30 on the 2nd and $10 further for each day after that. Rent can be paid in a check or money order. Boulder Property Management also has a payment portal so you can pay by debit or credit card at your convenience.
When you’re looking for an apartment, these are 7 of the most important things that you want to ask. There are other things that you’ll want to know, but these are the ones that are the most pressing and help you find the right house or apartment for your needs.If you are interested in getting an apartment or house for your next year of school, consider one of our properties. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to answer your questions about looking for Boulder apartments for rent. Either contact us through our website or give us a call and let us know what you are looking for. We have all kinds of properties to choose from and we’re ready to show you a property that will work best for you. Contact us today and let us show you what we have to offer and what makes Boulder Property Management different from other companies. Let us help you find your first rental and make your time in your first place a memorable one.