Once you find a Memphis apartment you like, the landlord will take you through an initial walk-through. There are several things you need to look at as you conduct your walk-through. You should make a final decision only after reviewing the condition of the Memphis apartment.
The first thing you should do is check every door. Make sure each door shuts and is secure. This is particularly important for doors leading outside. Test the locks, including chain and dead bolt locks. If the doors leading outside do not have dead bolt locks, ask the landlord if you are permitted to install them. If the landlord says you are not allowed to make changes to the security of the Memphis apartment, immediately consider finding an alternate Memphis apartment.
When checking the doors, make sure they do not stick. If the door is warped in any way, it might jam in the door frame when you shut it. This is a safety hazard because you can get stuck in a room.
Check the cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom to make sure they close appropriately. Make sure the hinges are secured so the doors will not break during use. If there are any splinters in the wood, ask the landlord if he plans to fix them before the next tenant moves in. See if the cabinets are clean.
The appliances should be clean and in good working condition. Open the oven and test the door. The oven door should be securely attached to the oven frame. The refrigerator door should also be secured at the hinges and remain closed when not in use. If the refrigerator includes an ice maker, ask if it works properly. Also find out if it makes noises when not in use.
One of the most important things to look for is evidence of infestation. When looking in the cabinets look for evidence of bugs. This can include bug carcasses or droppings. Ask the landlord about his extermination policy. Ask if he has had infestation problems with that particular Memphis apartment.
When walking through each room, examine the walls and ceilings carefully. The walls should have a fresh coating of paint. Look for cracks that may have been painted over. See if any of the ceiling plaster is cracked. Make sure there is no evidence of water spots on the ceiling. Water spots are indicative of problems with the pipes or a flooding issue with the neighbor above.
In addition, check in the bathroom and kitchen for water spots. In particular, look under the kitchen sink, around the bathtub, toilet, and bathroom sink. Test the flooring to make sure it is sturdy. If the floor has soft spots around water pipes, you might have a potential leaking problem.
Make sure the flooring is clean. This includes carpet and linoleum alike. The Memphis apartment should be empty so you can see the entire space clearly. Make sure the carpet is clean around the base board. Again, check for evidence of infestation. If the previous tenant had a pet, there might be a pet odor attached to the carpet. Ask the landlord to have it professionally cleaned.
Open and close each window. No window should be sealed shut. You want to be able to open windows and keep them open in a safe manner. Make sure they shut and lock properly. This is particularly important if you live on ground level. Windows that are not secure invite trouble.
Finally, listen for noise while you are in the Memphis apartment. Do you hear the neighbor above walking around? Can you hear the adjacent neighbor’s television? Do you hear the traffic going by? The noise factor can be a significant deterrent to renting a specific Memphis apartment. If you pay attention during the initial walk-through, you will be able to make an informed decision about renting the Memphis apartment.