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APARTMENT GUIDE MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN KANSAN.COM
Move-in inspections save time and money
BY AUTUMN MORNINGSKY
amorningsky@kansan.com
Ashley Slobodnik, Indianapolis, had never lived in her own place and didn't know to inspect the apartment before signing the lease. It turned out to be a wreck.
a junior from
"I had no idea what I was doing," Slobodnik said. "It was terrible — a crap hole."
Her dishwasher was
Her dishwasher was broken. The garbage disposal never worked. The drain in the bathroom was always clogged. Much of what was broken was never even fixed.
The only benefit?
"Just have a high standard for yourself, the rest is easy.
"If you move in and there's already damage to the unit, and you just take it and say everything's cool, you assume full responsibility," Eberline said. "I wouldn't want to move in and have stains and damage in my apartment."
A deposit is meant to cover any damages the tenant may cause while living there. According to Kyle Kline, leasing consultant for Aberdeen Apartments, 2300 Wakarusa St., deposits run anywhere from $100 to $2,200, depending on the size of the apartment. If any preexisting damage isn't reported, however, a tenant could lose hundreds of dollars
"Now at least I know how to fix a garbage disposal," she said.
It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of moving into a new place, but inspecting the apartment can save a lot of trouble and money.
Josh Eberline, assistant property manager at Tuckaway Apartments, 2600 W. 6th St., stressed the importance of knowing exactly what the responsibilities of the tenant and management were. Before moving in, he said, check anything and everything and be as thorough as possible.
in a lost deposit.
"In some instances, the deposit doesn't even cover the damages in the apartment." Kline said.
JOSH EBERLINE Assistant property manager Tuckaway Apartments
The only things she found were marks on the walls, and they were quickly painted.
Not only should one be aware in terms of maintenance. Eberline said, but also making sure that everything that was originally promised checks out.
"Just have a high standard for yourself," he said. "The rest is easy."
Lawrence leasing agents advise potential tenants to carefully check out the following:
Carpet and floor for stains or holes
WHAT TO INSPECT
Doors, locks and windows for security
Ceilings and walls for water damage
Appliances
Electrical outlets