Apartment hunting can be overwhelming, especially if you're moving from out of town. If you're planning on relocating to Houston, take heart: there are plenty of resources to make your long-distance apartment hunt easier. Here are a few tips to smooth the way:
Apartment Locators: Get Expert Help
Houston Apartment Insiders is here to make apartment hunting easy, and extra help is even more welcome when you're new to the city. Our service is free to renters. We make our money from apartment owners who pay our fee only after you sign your lease. We've been helping renters find Houston apartments for over 30 years, so we know the city, and we enjoy helping newcomers fall in love with our city, too. We'll help you identify your specific needs, narrow your search, and ask the right questions to find the apartment that's right for you. If you need us to, we'll even drive you around Houston to visit apartments.
Do Your Research
You can learn a great deal about Houston and about every neighborhood and apartment complex you're considering through simple internet searches. Start with our New to Houston Virtual Packet, which is full of information you need to know–car registration rules, who to call to set up your electricity, fun facts about the city, upcoming city events, and more. Our page for people relocating to Houston will connect you to sites for city information, transportation information, and basics like voter registration and change-of-address forms. To learn more about the city, check out Craigslist for Houston—and not just their apartment ads. Job listings, events, and activities posts can give you a feel for your new city, too. Also check out these online apartment-hunting apps, which can help you see your future neighborhood, check crime statistics for various parts of the city, compare rents in your chosen area, and more.
Take Stock of Your Own Resources
Don't forget your own connections. If you're moving to Houston for a job, ask your employer for advice, and don't forget to research the neighborhood where you'll be working and how your commute will look from the various apartments you're interested in. If you're moving here for school, you're in luck! Most colleges have great resources available for housing searches and advice about your new city. Check with your office of student life, and your school's web site. Whatever your reason for moving, take stock of your friends. Do you know anyone who already lives in Houston, or has lived here recently? Is there a friend of a friend whose brain you can pick? There's no better resource than someone who's already made the move here.
Visit Houston Ahead of Time if You Possibly Can
Unless it's completely impossible for you, take a short trip to Houston three to six weeks before you plan to move. Even with expert advice and all of the great online tools available, there is no substitute for seeing your potential neighborhood and building, hearing the noise levels, smelling the flowers (or trees or street or restaurant next door) and feeling the place for yourself. Could this apartment feel like home for you? Finding your new home is a very personal journey. Make the time to find the Houston apartment that looks, smells, sounds, and feels right for you.
Posted by Melanie Belasco Levy on 06/02/11
