Is it hard to find an apartment?

No. It is not difficult to find an apartment. However, finding the perfect apartment with everything you are looking for may be challenging. But it should be possible to find something in the area you’re looking for within your budget.

People often find an apartment in weeks. People rarely spend more than a month looking for an apartment.

Finding your first apartment

If you just moved to Buffalo, it will be more difficult to find an apartment but still possible. If you are moving from another part of the USA and have a credit history, it’ll be easier for you. However, if you are moving from outside of the USA, then you may have a more difficult time finding an apartment without paying extra.

If you already live in Buffalo it will be easier for you to find a place to live since you can visit an apartment in person to see if you like it and can avoid scams. If you are going to be living with roommates, you can meet them in person to see if you would like to live with them.

Before you start

There are some requirements that most landlords require you to provide for you to move in:

• Save money for a deposit and the first month of rent
  • A landlord will often take the first month of rent on day 1 of you living there and also take the amount of one month’s rent as a deposit in case of any damage they need to fix when you move out of the property
• Proof of income
  • Landlords will often as for bank statements and paystubs to ensure that you have a stable income to pay rent regularly

Understanding your options

• Normal apartment
  • Unfurnished apartments that you bring your own furniture to. They usually do have appliances for the large part. At times you may not have a washer or dryer so make sure to ask about this. Everything else from furniture to curtains is your responsibility.
  • These apartments often cover a portion of the utilities. Water and electricity may be included in your monthly rent. Make sure to ask the landlord about this.
  • This is the most common option for renters that is available to tenants. There is a fair bit of competition in certain areas of the city so make sure to put an application in if you find one you really want.
• Furnished apartments
  • These are rarer to find in the city but are available at times. These will be “move-in ready” if you like the apartment as is and are willing to live in it like it is.
• Student housing
  • If you are a student at one of the many colleges in the region, you will often find nearby housing that was built specifically for students. These often come with furniture, transportation to the campus, and often only accept students as residents so you’ll be around people like you.
• Purchasing a condo apartment
  • It is also possible to purchase an apartment. If you find you like, you are able to buy the unit just like you would with a normal home.
  • This is usually not recommended for people just moving to the city since you may not know what area you like yet.

Looking for an apartment

Ask your friends and family

Ask people you know about if they know of any apartments within your budget and your ideal location. This is an easy way to find something you like before the landlord lists the apartment on the internet for others to find.

If your friends are renting somewhere but their landlord doesn’t have availability in that specific apartment, ask them to ask their landlord if they have availability in another building they manage. Landlords will often have more than one property that they are managing and they may have an opening in another building.

If you are a student going to school, ask the Student Life office to help you get a list of nearby housing that is considered student housing.

Places to search

• National Apartment Search Resources
  • Zillow for renters
  • Apartments.com
  • Trulia.com
  • Zumper.com
• For finding furnished apartments
  • Furnishedfinder.com
• For finding single rooms (instead of entire apartments)
  • Rentler.com
• Local classifieds
  • Craigslist
  • Facebook Marketplace
• Local development/rental management companies
  • Ellicott Development
  • Sinatra & Co
  • Ciminelli Real Estate
  • There are many more. Make sure to do your research on local real estate management companies and see if current renters are having a positive experience with them.

Contact the landlord to see the apartment

Once you find an apartment you like, to make sure you like the apartment, schedule an appointment with the landlord to go see it. They’ll either set up a time where only you are seeing the apartment or an open house where multiple people can walk in to see the unit.

While you are at the apartment, make sure to ask lots of questions and learn everything you can about the apartment.

Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:

• Do they allow pets?
• Are appliances included?
• Who are your neighbors?
• Is there fast internet access?
• Can you hear noise from your neighbors? From outside?
• Are utilities included in your rent? (Water, electricity, internet, gas/heat, garbage services, etc)

Apply for the apartment

Once you decide that you like an apartment, it is time to submit an application. Landlords are looking for tenants who pay their rent on time and don’t cause any issues. They are trying their best to avoid people who cause problems for them and other tenants. The purpose of the application is for the landlord to make sure you fill in these criteria.

The application will ask for the following information:

• Your personal information
  • General information about who you are
  • Finance information including your income and proof of funds
  • Employment status
• Information about your car if there is parking included in the unit
• Information about your pets if you have pets
• Information about your roommates if you have roommates
• Previous addresses and previous landlord contact information
  • They may ask the previous landlord about what their experience with you as a tenant was
• Character references
  • They may ask these people about you to learn more about you as a person. Their goal is to know if you are a person who will cause problems.
• Permission for a background check
  • They want to know if you have any criminal history or anything that would be concerning
• Emergency contact
  • Who should the landlord call if there is an emergency occurring to you and someone needs to be notified

The applications may also have a fee associated with them. These fees are for the landlord to make sure only serious applicants apply. Make sure to ask if the application fee will go toward your deposit or the first month’s rent. There may also be a fee for a background check if one is completed.

Sign the lease

Once your application is approved, the landlord will send you a contract that is called a lease. This is the agreement between you and the landlord on the terms of your living on their property.

Make sure to read through the lease and understand the terms that are included. It will include:

• All the payments you are responsible for
• All the payments the landlord is responsible for
• The term of the lease (how long are you living there for)
• Penalties for breaking the lease early
• Rules and restrictions of living there
• Amenities you have access to
• Services the landlord will provide you with
• Protections that you have
• Protections that the landlord has

Once you agree to the terms and sign the lease, you’ll be responsible for a deposit and the first month’s rent. Make sure you don’t pay anything until you sign the lease. When you pay rent and the deposit, ensure that you always have proof that you paid. If you pay in cash and then don’t have a receipt, the landlord may claim that you never paid.

Now you’re ready to move into the apartment and make it your home.