Evaluating Memphis Apartments on the Phone
May 23rd, 2008 by Memphis Apartments
The very best option for selecting a Memphis apartment is to visit the site in person. But evaluating Memphis apartments on the phone can be a way to narrow the list of possibilities and even to select a Memphis apartment that’s not nearby. While phone calls are a valuable resource for evaluating Memphis apartments, there are some things you should keep in mind during the process. At the top of that list is human perspective.
There’s no doubt that people see things differently. It’s what makes up the human race and what keeps life from becoming boringly uniform. It’s also what makes one person’s “adequate” another person’s “impossible.” So how can a telephone call help you evaluate a Memphis apartment at all?
Start by talking in absolutes. Rather than abstract words like “small,” ask for dimensions. Learning that a bedroom is ten by ten gives you a clear picture of the size of that room. In addition, it eliminates the reporter’s sense of perspective. If that person has a large Memphis apartment, that ten-by-ten bedroom may seem tiny and he or she is likely to describe it as such. If, on the other hand, he or she lives in an efficiency Memphis apartment shared with two roommates, that ten-by-ten bedroom may seem incredibly large.
If you’re making plans to visit these Memphis apartments before you rent, you may have enough information at this point to decide whether to put this on your list of “must sees.” If you’re moving a great distance and are going to rent a Memphis apartment without making a personal visit, there are some additional steps you can take toward that. In the end, a short-tern lease or rental agreement will mean that you’re not tied to that Memphis apartment for a long time so that you can shop for something more suitable once you’re settled into your new city.
Even with those absolutes as part of your conversation, a second opinion may be helpful. If possible, talk to someone else about that same Memphis apartment and compare the details. Having two perspectives may help you determine how much of what you’ve learned over the phone is true and how much is one person’s idea of a great Memphis apartment.
If possible, follow up the conversation with photos. With today’s technology, sending photos via e-mail or even by way of cell phones is a relatively simply occurrence. While photos do give you more perspective than only a conversation, there is still room for error here so be certain the photos are of good quality and that you can see everything you want - and need - to see.
Call on a friend, if possible. Not only will your friends and relatives be more likely to give you an unbiased opinion about whether a particular Memphis apartment is suitable, you’ll also have the perspective of someone who knows you, your likes and needs. You’ll also have a better idea of knowing what that person means by “tiny” or “humongous.”
You may find that working with a real estate agent is your best option. Not only can you deal with this person by phone, you can give a real estate agent your list of “must haves,” your rent budget and any other requirements, then allow him or her to spend the time searching for the appropriate Memphis apartment while you talk on the phone occasionally to learn what they’ve found.
The bottom line is that there are better ways to evaluate a Memphis apartment rather than depending solely on telephone calls. But with the right questions and by including the use of photos, you may find that it’s the best option at your disposal.