Practical Tips for Renters: How to Identify a Great Rental and Avoid Red Flags

Renters want to find a great apartment, the right place for them, one that checks all the boxes of location, rental cost, amenities, safety, and more. Finding that ideal can feel like searching for a needle in the dreaded haystack or—in some markets—like navigating a minefield. Deploying a few investigative skills and research will help seekers become happy renters.

Looks Aren't Everything

First impressions are important, but only if they’re accurate. This cuts both ways, good and bad. Almost every renter has a story of seeing apartments online that appear picture-perfect only to find they’re a dump in person. Thankfully, many in-person apartment tours live up to their web presence and then some.

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in advertising is convenient, but it doesn’t necessarily make the rental search easier. In fact, it adds one more level of scrutiny when it comes to identifying a great rental property.

Photos, virtual tours, and videos are great but nothing beats touring a property in person. That’s when the apartment complex gets a second chance to make a good first impression. Renters agree that, at first sight, things like trash, lack of lawn care, and parking lots in obvious disrepair can be red flags.

“If a place looks dirty, or if they’re only willing to show me the model unit instead of the actual, available vacant apartment, that’s a red flag to me,” shares Bernice Coleman, millennial renter in South Atlanta for five years.

Coleman recalls her mother’s experience in South Carolina, being shown an upgraded, furnished model apartment, “but when we moved in, it was a run-down, rinky-dink, bad apartment—nothing like what we were shown.”

Maintenance Matters

Apartment shoppers quickly notice things that appear worn, broken, or in need of maintenance. This is true of the apartment complex and individual units. Faded signage, rusty structures like mail centers and dumpsters, broken window screens, and unkempt landscaping all conspire to depress rather than impress.

Non-functional entrance gates or broken security arms are big red flags as controlled-access communities tout these as security features, often at a premium cost.

In unit, apartments that show their age, have old carpet, and obviously need some TLC can be viewed as red flags. Even maintenance that is subpar can be cause for concern.

“The problem with the model (unit) is no one’s lived in it. No one’s gotten the chance to beat it up,” explains Georgia renter Laura Cooper. “So you go to see an actual (previously occupied) apartment, and it’s a huge disappointment not because of décor, but because of the way they maintained it.”

She cites things like painting over problems instead of doing a thorough fix or complete refresh. “It looks tacky. It’s lazy, and it makes you wonder ‘what else are they lazy about?’” she says.

Trust your instincts, and listen to your gut. Sometimes it’s tough to put your finger on every red flag as some might be a bit intangible. Of apartment hunting, Cooper shares, “It’s a vibe. You pull in, and you got people just hanging around. They’re not sitting on their porch enjoying the sun or a cup of coffee, reading a book. They’re skulking, and to me, that’s usually not a good thing.”

Cooper also suggests visiting different times of the day for a more complete picture of life there. Lights that are out but shouldn’t be, unsupervised children, potholes in parking lots, and pets roaming off-leash are all negatives.

Nevertheless, don’t write off these places too quickly. These concerns are worth discussing with the leasing company. Perhaps improvements are scheduled. It may be used as possible leverage when negotiating the lease rate, assuming the positives balance out the negatives.

Read the Reviews

Google reviews are the holy grail of apartment research. Smart renters embrace this resource. Reviews contain information about the apartments, management, amenities, and maintenance. It’s a window to the reputation of the complex and their staff. There are always a few disgruntled reviewers, so consider the details specific to those. Often it is obvious when a complaint is and is not valid. Coleman is a fan of Google reviews, sorting by the most recent first and also perusing the lowest ones.

“They’re more accurate than any apartment advertising,” she says. When shopping online for an apartment in the in-town Atlanta area, she saw “many cute places, but the reviews undid the cuteness,” which saved her an in-person trip.

Jacksonville, Florida, renter Isabella Rodriguez also relies on Google reviews but takes it a step further.

“You can use AI to say ‘Tell me what the world is saying about’ and insert the name of the apartments you’re considering,” she explains.

For reasons good or bad, has the apartment community been in the news? Enter the apartment complex name in the Google search box, then click NEWS. The search returns possible matches found in local media. It’s a fast way to plug into recent events, even criminal activity.

It’s not just Google. An apartment complex’s own social media pages often include reviews from current and former tenants. Facebook can be searched for groups specific to that complex. Again, reviews and discussions from current tenants can be found.

Access to some apartment complex-specific Facebook groups may be private or limited to residents. It’s still worth a look. If tenant members are visible, a familiar face might be found, offering an inside track to community information. After all, the best review is a conversation with a current resident. There’s no better way to get all the inside intelligence than from someone already living there.

Red Flag Round-Up

Walnut Capital, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based real estate management and development company, compiled this list of apartment-hunting red flags.

Red Flag #1: Rent That Feels Too Good to Be True. (If it’s too cheap, there’s a reason! Know the price range for the market. Confirm if any additional fees beyond rent apply.)Red Flag #2: Vague or Confusing Lease Terms. (Make sure you understand what you’re signing. Don’t allow this step to be rushed.)Red Flag #3: Signs of Property Neglect. (Inspect the condition of the unit, common areas, and the community as a whole.)Red Flag #4: Poor Communication From the Start. (The interaction you experience as a potential renter indicates the service you’ll receive as a tenant.)Red Flag #5: No Clear Maintenance Process. (Get answers on what this looks like, how tickets are submitted, and response time for requests.)Red Flag #6: Constant Turnover (What’s their occupancy rate? Are units always available? Why?)Red Flag #7: Amenities That Sound Better on Paper. (Don’t just tour the unit; tour the amenities, too!)

Beware of Scams

The number and variety of rental-related scams is staggering and disturbing. First-time renters or other vulnerable parties urgently looking to secure an apartment can be duped out of their money or suffer a ding to their credit score.

If something seems off or appears to be an atypical, non-standard business practice, walk away. A written lease governs the apartment rental process, detailing the obligations of each party, the landlord and the renter. Don’t accept—or sign—anything other than a written lease that you have read and fully understand.

McLean, Virginia-based Southern Management Companies manages 75 apartment communities representing more than 25,000 apartments in the mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. They share a warning list of scam-related red flags of apartment hunting.

1. Inability to tour the community or complex
2. No written lease agreement
3. Unofficial sublease. “Sub-lessees can find themselves in frustrating situations if their name is not officially on the signed lease agreement. Something as simple as getting a key if you’re locked out, or obtaining a parking permit for your vehicle can be difficult (if not impossible) when subleasing. If you choose to sublease, make sure to do so officially, through the landlord.”
4. Minimal background check.
5. Intermediary property manager. “Middleman apartment scams involve a third party that claims to manage the apartment on behalf of the owners. Online scammers can steal images from a legitimate management company and create ads with the intention of extracting money, in the form of a deposit or rent, from eager apartment hunters. Always work with reputable property management companies or the owner directly, if possible.”
6. A deal too good to be true.

“The best defense against potential apartment scams is education and preparation!” the company says.

Great Rentals Do Exist

Scary stuff aside, great rentals exist as thousands if not millions of happy tenants can attest. Communicative staff, transparency in pricing, fees, and lease terms, well-kept amenities, and diligent, responsive maintenance staff make life great for apartment dwellers.

Real estate titans Berkshire Hathaway compiled a list of six tips to “Rent Wisely.”

1. Know What You Can Afford. (Mind your budget! The American Apartment Owners Association says “monthly rent should be no more than 30% of gross monthly income.”)
2. Determine “Must Have” Features
3. Don’t Sacrifice Safety
4. Do Your Research
5. Be Prepared (Be ready with documentation like tax returns, proof of employment, and letters of reference.)
6. Understand Your Lease

Savvy renters self-educate or seek assistance from those in the know. Going into your lease—your first or your thirty-first—with your questions answered and concerns addressed makes for a comfortable, satisfying experience.

Remaining vigilant about potential and actual red flags and scams is part of the process, but it serves the same purpose: helping renters find a home that’s right for them.