In a perfect world, you’d be a millionaire who didn’t have to work and who could live in a hotel indefinitely while searching for a new place. The world is not perfect.
Chances are, if you are moving to a new place, you won’t have the luxury of being able to scout out a new apartment in person. You will need to apartment search from your current city, no matter how far away it is.
Searching for a place blindly is possible, but it’s time consuming and imprecise. You should focus your search, if possible, by targeting areas right for you. Fortunately, there are some ways to do this.
Use Craiglist – if you know the neighborhood(s) you want to live in, Craigslist is a Greta resource. It will let you narrow neighborhoods, prices and pe of places so that you can quickly find what’s available that suits your needs. And it’s free.
Use an apartment service – there are companies that collect apartment advertisements and that allow you to narrow your searches based on price, location and type. They come at a price, but they can be of great use, especially as a complement to Craiglist.
Hire a realtor – you can pay an actual person to search for you. This can be especially helpful if you are moving to an area that is competitive for good rents and locations, like the San Francisco bay area or New York. A realtor can be an advocate that gets your application to the top of the pile, so to speak.
Use Google Street View – google street view is a great way to experience an area. You can type in an address and wander the streets, seeing the surroundings buildings and nature for blocks, for miles. It’s the next best thing to walking the streets yourself.
Finding an apartment in a new area where you don’t live is very possible, and fortunately finding an apartment is easier than finding a home. If you are looking for a home, learn how to find a new home in a different city.