So you have finally made the decision to move out of your family house? Congratulations! One of the first things you’ll likely do as an adult is to rent your own apartment. As a first-time renter, you might feel intimidated about renting your first apartment. Not to worry though, the steps below will help you in securing your first apartment.

Step 1 – Set a Budget



Have a look at your annual income to determine how much you can afford. It is recommended that you only spend between 25% - 35% of your net income on rent. You also need to consider all the utility bills you would be required to pay like Power, Gas, Cable, etc. and make sure that you can afford the extra bills. If you can’t find a place within your budget, consider getting a roommate.

Step 2 – Create a Criteria to Identify Potential Apartments



Make a list of what you are looking for in an ideal apartment. How many bedrooms do you want? Any preference on location? Do you prefer a furnished or unfurnished apartment? After you have listed your criteria, go online and search for apartments that fit this criteria. Sites like Private Property, ToLet & Lamudi are good places to start your search.

Step 3 – Top Up Your Phone



Looking for a new apartment requires constantly calling agents and chasing leads for prospective apartments. Before you start searching, ensure that you have enough airtime to stay connected to these agents so that you are able to get the best place for your budget. The Zoto recharge app is recommended for recharging your phone on the go. The app also gives cashback on every recharge so you never run out of airtime.

Step 4 – Set Aside A Day To Visit Your Potentials



After you have identified some potential apartments, it is advisable to physically visit these apartments to see their condition. Make this process as efficient as possible by visiting as many of your potentials as you can in a single day. Saturdays are the busiest days for landlords & agents showing apartments, so try to go sometime during the week. Before you commit to any apartment, make sure you have properly inspected it to make sure that everything works and there are no damages. If something doesn’t, get a commitment from the landlord about fixing it.

Step 5 – Make A Good First Impression



When visiting a potential apartment, try to look and act your best. Landlords are always on the lookout for tenants that are reliable, courteous, and easy to get along with. Your first impression starts with the phone call to set up the appointment. Be polite and speak clearly. Also make sure you are on time! If you show up late to your appointment, the agent or landlord could take that as a sign you may be late in paying rent.

Step 6 – Ask Current Tenants About Their Experience



Never take the word of the landlord or agent about how great an apartment is. Their job is to sell so they will do their best to convince you to commit. Visit the apartment at a later date after you have viewed it to speak to the tenants about the experience living there.

Above all else, always try to be on the lookout for dubious agents. Before you part with your money, ensure that you have met with the landlord of the building and have verified this from other tenants.

Have you had any experience renting apartments before? Do you have any tips to share? Let us know in the comments!

Read more here: http://zoto.com.ng/6-steps-to-help-you-rent-your-first-apartment/

I got ya boss.

U nailed it bro... Thumbs up.

Step 4 is very important..physically inspect the apartment by yourself and ask questions from old tenants. From experience, rainy season is the best time to inspect a potential apartment, cos most houses in Lagos will look very ok during dry season but when its rainy season eh, its either the area will be inaccessible due to flood or the building walls will start soaking (damping).


Forget about that first impression ishh..Some nonsense landlords are so tribalistic that they have already made up thier mind never to rent out thier house to people from a particular tribe, no matter how good and nice you try to make your first impression.

Like someone said above, dont even get carried away by fine walls esp in lagos. inspect the house after a heavy rain, cos u might end up swimming in ur apartment.

I'll love to live in my own apartment

Sweetyie:
I'll love to live in my own apartment

are you up to 18 yet?

Qualer:


are you up to 18 yet?

Yes

you're on point for 4 and 6

nice post.let me also add that in Nigeria,the best time to house hunt is during raining season because that is when you truly know what to expect!

Good points, as said. Check out the place during rainy seasons esp in Lagos.
Pls is it me or has anyone noticed that house rents are becoming cheaper in Abuja? There re lots of vacant houses both in Abuja main city and the suburbs. Renters are having a field day pricing down flats while landlords are practically begging for tenants.

Nicely listed,the Tenants Chat made me laugh cause its so true especially if the Landlord is bad.

4 & 6 are the most important steps.

Very insightful. Thank you OP for sharing

FriedPlantain:
Hope y'all saying 'the best time to rent an apartment is the rainy season' do know that in most cases, the need to rent an apartment is always urgent - say a month or two. No one ain't got no _fucking time to wait for some goddamn rainy season to start looking for an apartment. Nigga!

Leave them make them dey wait for rainy season

Nice one

FriedPlantain:
Hope y'all saying 'the best time to rent an apartment is the rainy season' do know that in most cases, the need to rent an apartment is always urgent - say a month or two. No one ain't got no _fucking time to wait for some goddamn rainy season to start looking for an apartment.........Niggas!



Friedplantain

lolsss.well you may not necessarily wait but just ask around what the street is like when it rains!

brandymcmb:


Leave them make them dey wait for rainy season

I know a street with many fine houses for rent.Former Tenants regret ever staying there without asking questions.people refuse to rent houses there because when it rains,the street becomes a very big river and it is like that for days.

Neroski:

I know a street with many fine houses for rent.Former Tenants regret ever staying there without asking questions.people refuse to rent houses there because when it rains,the street becomes a very big river and it is like that for days.

I totally agree with one statement you made "former tenants regret staying there without asking questions" one can always ask questions

Not that you must wait till rainy season before you can rent a house

We all know how urgent one might need an accommodation, you would nau be waiting till rainy season

Except you haven't experienced urgent search for an accommodation before

well said

Wonderful post!

for the internet lovers please find a place with good service coverage else you will turn winch waiting for midnight to download your stuff. #experience

OP, God bless you oo. You just addressed my needs! I have been wondering how many percentage of my income should be allocated to rent. But OP I think 25-30% of annual income is way too much. That's for me anyway. Apartments in Lagos are expensive mehn especially on the island. God dey oo.
Your post was very enlightening and helpful. Thanks

jmichlins:
for the internet lovers please find a place with good service coverage else you will turn winch waiting for midnight to download your stuff. #experience

Looool...this is actually a very good point.

As funny as it is...It is a very solid point.
Just imagine going to rent some fine looking house where all networks only come alive between 12am to 3:30am.....ahhh

InZA:


Looool...this is actually a very good point.

As funny as it is...It is a very solid point.
Just imagine going to rent some fine looking house where all networks only come alive between 12am to 3:30am.....ahhh

...
should i rent another house and the data speed is not up to 1mb/sec in the day, then I will pass. i don suffer for where I dey now

PiperAlpha:
OP, God bless you oo. You just addressed my needs! I have been wondering how many percentage of my income should be allocated to rent. But OP I think 25-30% of annual income is way too much. That's for me anyway. Apartments in Lagos are expensive mehn especially on the island. God dey oo.
Your post was very enlightening and helpful. Thanks

Boss like you.

25 - 30% would be too much na except you wanna rent a bungalow at Osborne Foreshore.

davide470:
Boss like you.

25 - 30% would be too much na except you wanna rent a bungalow at Osborne Foreshore.

Boss ke. sometimes what we see is not really there, and what we don't see is there. Figure it out

jmichlins:
for the internet lovers please find a place with good service coverage else you will turn winch waiting for midnight to download your stuff. #experience

very true.my new apartment no get network coverage o.I really don't understand it.I have to walk to the gate to get full network.lolsss

Pls I need a. Female roomate.
She must be able to cook and she must not eat too much .

Thank u
Sorry and she must be in d working class

Pls I need a. Female roomate.

She must be able to cook and she must not eat too much .


Thank u

Sorry and she must be in d working class