Questions to Ask Before Renting an Apartment | Collective
Before signing on the dotted line, make sure to ask your leasing agent the following questions.
1. What is covered in my rent?
Laying out what is covered in your rent before you sign on the dotted line is important because things like heating, electric, water and Wi-Fi can really add to your monthly costs. Knowing what is and is not included helps you budget and plan ahead.
2. What are the average utility bills?
Knowing what to expect to pay for all your utilities can play a role in whether the property is the right fit for you and your budget. Building managers should have information for what you can expect to pay in addition to your monthly rent. They may even have relationships with local internet providers and can help get you a better deal on your Wi-Fi!
3. How do I pay my rent?
Online? A check? In cash (now that’s maybe a red flag…)? Knowing how and when your rent is due is important so you don’t run into any late fees.
4. Parking – for you and your guests
Not all apartment parking lots are created equal. Make sure to get clarification on the apartment's parking situation. Is parking reserved or open and does a garage come with your unit? Will your friends get towed if they visit you and park in the lot? No one wants to get towed, so be in the know.
5. What is your early termination policy? Can I sublet if needed?
Know what the apartments termination policy is, and any fees associated with it. If you can’t terminate early, make sure you know if you can sublet your apartment and what that process is like. You may not plan to leave your lease early, but things happen and it’s best to be prepared.
6. Can I renew my lease? If I do, can I go month to month?
Most likely your apartment will have no problem with you renewing your lease (apartment managers love that), but apartments have different rules around lease terms. Some buildings are happy to go month to month (typically with an added monthly fee) and others won’t lease for terms less than 6 or even 12 months.
7. Are pets allowed? Do you have any breed restrictions?
Your fur babies are important, so make sure you check if the building you are interested in allows pets early on in the process. Some apartments advertise “pets allowed” but have breed restrictions. Asking this question to any of your perspective apartments, helps narrow down your options to best suit you (and your furry friend).
8. If something needs repairing, what is the process of submitting a maintenance request?
If your sink springs a leak at 8pm on a Friday, you don’t want your apartment flooding all weekend. Making sure your perspective apartment has quick and timely maintenance is so important in case something goes wrong. This question can be a great insight into how the management company cares for the building and should be considered when making your final decision.
9. What is the neighborhood like? Noise, traffic, and accessibility are all factors to consider.
Knowing what the neighborhood your exploring is like, can help you decide on an apartment. Is it near a campus and tends to be loud at night? What is the access to public transportation? Is it biking friendly? Know what you like and dislike and ask accordingly.
10. Have you had any issues with the apartment and if so, are they resolved?
Know the history of your unit and the building before signing your lease. You don’t what to find out too late that your building has reoccurring plumbing issues. The less surprises once you move in, the better.
Knowing what questions to ask when looking for a new apartment can be overwhelming. Make a plan before touring a unit and have your list ready. Don’t be afraid to pre-screen your unit! Email or ask on the phone your most important questions. Once you have those answers, you can make a more informed decision on touring and eventually renting the apartment.
Looking to rent an apartment? Check out our current availabilities!
Ask Shawna Jorgensen what a typical day looks like and she'll probably laugh. "That's one of my favorite parts of the job — no two days are the same." As Community Manager at Huntington Village and Jackson Heights , Shawna assists residents, conducts showings, coordinates with vendors, plans and hosts events, and steps in wherever she is needed. The list, she'll tell you, goes on.
Collective is excited to welcome Jackson Heights Apartments and Townhomes to our growing portfolio of resident-first communities in South Dakota. Located in Harrisburg, South Dakota, Jackson Heights is just down the road from our Huntington Village community in Sioux Falls. “Jackson Heights is a great fit for Collective. We are glad to be growing our presence in the Sioux Falls area,” according to Scott Houle, President of Collective. Jackson Height’s location is a big draw, offering easy access to Sioux Falls coupled with the pace of a smaller city. Another reason residents choose Jackson Heights is that it’s one community with two great choices: apartments and townhomes.
Teams from dozens of businesses from Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo, as well as team members from Collective and our sister company, Great States Construction, descended upon Nemzek Fieldhouse at MSUM to compete in the sold-out Corporate Cup, organized by the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce. The teams competed in events like tug of war, human battleships, kickball, human foosball, an inflatable obstacle course, SNAG Golf, and flag football. The Collective-Great States team came out strong, with a dominating performance in the inflatable obstacle course, followed by a riveting battle on the tug of war field that saw the team come out on top once again.
Cowbells. A derby car track. Smoke detectors beeping from every direction. Welcome to Maintenance Mania. The Greater Red River Apartment Association brought maintenance professionals together at the Avalon Event Center in Fargo to compete in a series of timed, scored events based on the real challenges these techs tackle every day: troubleshooting broken sinks, fixing locks, replacing dead batteries, repairing torn screens, and more.
Jade Wahl loves the kind of environment where most people would probably feel overwhelmed. “I thrive in chaos,” Jade said. “Every day brings something new.” Her career in property management started about eight years ago in Bismarck as a leasing agent before being promoted into a property manager role where she oversaw properties and the people who keep them running. Through connections from a previous job, she was introduced to Collective and shifted her focus to a different side of property management: Learning and Development Specialist. It was natural given her experience in supporting team members. "I love the relationships I get to create with each of our team members."
Tori Madilia grew up nearly 2,000 miles from Billings, but the path that brought her to Farmstead is less random than it might seem. After making the move to the Treasure State to be closer to her boyfriend, Tori got a career nudge from someone who knew her well. Her best friend back home happened to be a community manager and had a feeling she might enjoy property management. He encouraged her to give it a try. “My best friend back home thought I’d do well at it,” Tori said. “He was right. I knew from the get-go I’d be a good fit here.”
Thomas Janis has been working in maintenance for nearly 8 years, learning as he goes and picking things up from the people around him. Today, he serves as a Senior Maintenance Technician at 10Bedrock Apartments in Box Elder, South Dakota. He is a proud member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe , a revered culture known for a deep sense of responsibility to others. Spend just a few minutes around Thomas and you’ll quickly see what matters to him. “My culture is based on warriors helping the community strive,” he said. “I carry that into my work.”
Dakota Park isn’t new to Fargo. With a few thoughtful, resident-focused updates, it’s getting even better. The community first opened in 1996 and is noteworthy as one of the largest communities in Fargo, one of the first to feature underground parking, and one of the first to have an indoor pool. It’s no surprise that many residents have chosen to call Dakota Park for decades. It truly does have everything you need. It’s been a few months since we welcomed Dakota Park into the Collective portfolio, and it’s quickly become a favorite among our team. In that time, they’ve come up with some great ideas to make it even better.
Ryan Sullivan found his way into property management when opportunity and timing aligned perfectly. Like a lot of people in 2020, Ryan found himself looking for something new. His wife, knowing how good he was at fixing things, encouraged him to look into a role with Presbyterian Homes. What started as a maintenance position quickly turned into a career as he worked his way up to second in command at one of the largest senior living locations in the state of Minnesota. Today, Ryan serves as a Senior Maintenance Technician at ElseWarehouse and The Copham in Minneapolis’ North Loop.
Collective recently expanded its presence in Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood when it added The Copham in March. The Copham is a historic warehouse turned apartment community located on Washington Avenue just down the block from Collective’s ElseWarehous e. With its modern-meets-industrial style and a location in the heart of one of Minneapolis’ most vibrant neighborhoods, The Copham is a natural fit for the Collective portfolio.
