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Best Sites and Apps to Find, Rent, Buy Apartments 2018 | Best apartment search sites

Andrew

top 10 websites apps for finding apartments
Finding that perfect spot, where you come back and unwind after a hard day at work can be a difficult job, especially if you’re not the type of person that can be easily pleased, by any random location.

You have to look through various listings, see if they fit your budget and eventually go check out the place by yourself, just to be sure that everything is ok.

All these things take a lot of time and nerves and we strongly believe that you want to avoid being put in such a situation. In this case, we’re pretty sure that you’re wondering if there is not an easier solution, like doing it online. Well, you said the magic word: “online”.

After doing a bit of research, we’ve come across a few of the best sites and apps (yes, there are dedicated apps for this!) which you can use to find your dream apartment sooner than expected.

Most of these services are free, as the only difference between them is made by their integrated features, like filters, so you can sort out apartments, and many others. But no more chatting and let’s see what we have for you guys!

Apartment List

Available for both Android and iOS, this app can be considered the starting point for any apartment hunter. It presents a huge number of potentially suitable places meeting your criteria.

Also, one of its biggest pluses is the ability to set how much you want to spend, where exactly you would like to live, as well as your commuting route. After providing all this information, just give it a few moments and it will present you all the places matching your criteria.

By far, one of the best places for finding apartments right now!

Realtor.com

Ok, time to switch to a website this time, but one that also has its own app, doing exactly the same thing. We’re talking about Realtor Rentals, which allows users to browse by map or photo view, not to mention that it provides specific driving instructions, so you can check all the apartments you want in person, without an agent.

Within the app, you will find options for setting alerts for all the apartments meeting your criteria, just as they come on the market. Basically, with one simple tap, you can get in contact with the leasing agent or even the owner and start your conversation.

Apartment Guide

Moving on, we have another entry on our list with the best sites and apps to find apartments, called – you’ll never guess this – Apartment Guide, available for iOS and Android.

The app provides HD photos, as well as floor plans, so you can check out any potential location even in the tiniest details. Also, the app, no matter on which platform you’re using it, allows you to actually save listings and share them with your friends. No, not on social media, to brag about your future apartment, but to ask for a second impression.

Bonus points for the interface, which makes it really easy to navigate through.

Rent.com

One of the most popular rentals websites makes it to our top as well. Rent.com offers two methods of checking out properties, through browser or app, which is, by the way, available for Android and iOS.

What we like the most about this option is that you can find all the available times for visiting and, if you come across something you like, book a tour, so you can check out all the details. Additionally, you can check out reviews left by previous residents and narrow down your search according to these.

In the past, it was proven that reviews left by people who actually lived in those apartments had a high impact on the final decision.

HotPads

If you’re looking for listings from major cities, then this is the app to try. However, it’s not limited to these locations!

Something we really like about it is the fact that, besides any other relevant details about a listing, it includes neighborhood details, like nearby schools and the walk score of the area. These are great to help you get an overall feel of the area around the apartment you’re considering buying or renting.

Finally, let’s not forget about the designated hot listings, which are actually the ones attracting the most interest from the app’s users. We bet that you will find something you like here!

Zillow Rentals

With more than 400,000 available spaces, Zillow Rentals is definitely one of the best sites to find apartments. However, the big number of properties you can choose from is not everything!

The website (or app) offers you the ability to personalize a search using filters such as pet policy, in-unit laundry or even on-site parking. Once you’re done, just save the searches that interest you the most, if you’re not yet decided, so you can check them out whenever you want.

If you’re not convinced on whether you should rent or buy, you can also check out all the homes available for sale in the Zillow network. Because guess what? There are also a lot which you can purchase!

Abodo

Last but not least, we also have Abodo. Abodo provides a visually streamlined way to search for rentals, using basic requirements, like the rent price, the total number of bedrooms, but also gives you the ability to select non-negotiables, like air-conditioning or pet-friendliness. If you want to check out the details for selected listings, it’s actually very easy, as they open up over the search results, so you can sort them considering the relevancy, price, recency, or even popularity.

Search tip: In map view, listing icons turn grey after you’ve clicked on them, so you won’t end up checking the same listing multiple times.

And we’re done! Hopefully, our selection of the best sites and apps to find apartments will help you come across the perfect spot for you! Obviously, if you know any similar variants, do let us know about them, using the comments section below!

Prepare Your Home for a Spring Sale

Andrew

Tips on how to prepare home for a Spring sale
It’s time to sell your home. You’ve done the research and you’ve determined that selling your home is the best idea for your finances and for your life. You’ve talked to your realtor and you know what you have to get done.

It doesn’t matter the reason — maybe you’re downsizing into a one-bedroom Minneapolis apartment or you’ve found an awesome rent to own deal nearby in a favorite neighborhood — you still must have your house ready for the spring selling season.

A recent report from the Huffington Post found that homes listed in spring sell an average of 18 days faster, and often even for higher prices. So, you need to take advantage of this opportunity and get your place on the market. And here are few ways you can do that.

Think Like A Buyer

Your buyer isn’t looking to do a ton of maintenance as soon as they move into the house … well, at least most people aren’t. So, do it for them. Go through the normal maintenance routines, like cleaning the HVAC filters, checking out the quality of the chimney, have a pro inspector walk through the place, and clean out the old gutters.

Make your place move-in ready and you’ll attract a ton of attention from buyers in the area. Transition your home from winter to spring and show them how beautiful it could be.

Spruce Up That Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is important. What does the buyer see when he or she arrives at your house? Does it look inviting, clean and ready to be lived in? Or has your curb appeal really fallen off? When selling your home in spring, it is critical that your yard and landscaping are in prime condition. Buyers formulate a lasting first impression of houses within the first 60 seconds. That amount of time does not even give them a chance to enter your home, so make your first impression count.

Landscaping can be a great place to start. Think about the exterior of your home as much as you think about the inside. Create a welcoming environment and get those buyers in the door.

Paint Your Front Door

Buyers notice the front door before anything else. Is your door a dull color? Is the paint chipped and falling off? If so, head on over to your local Home Depot and find a nice color of paint for your door. Get something inviting and vibrant and start slathering on a fresh coat of paint. You’d be surprised at how important a bright color of paint on your front door can be. Put in the work now so that when your buyer arrives, a great first impression is made.

A Little Boost From Plants and Flowers

Blooming plants, new floral arrangements, a crisp and clean garden — touches of flower and greenery can go a long way in making your home look like it’s in pristine condition. And if your neighbor’s yard is in bad shape, this can elevate your home in huge, huge way. It might be a bit early to start planting in your area, depending on the current climate, but add a few touches of greenery on your porch or in potted plans on the day of your open house.

Tips for Selling a Beach House

Andrew

how to sell a beach house

There’s nothing like a beach home; the escape from life, solitude and the relaxation is not comparable. But, this means extra upkeep and extra mortgage, it is no wonder that many people are considering shedding a no-longer-needed beach house. Besides, all good things comes to an end one way or the other, right? However, selling your beach house may be the hardest thing you will ever do; it’s not like selling your typical house. If you are not careful, you may end up regretting your selling decision. So, below are few simple but critical tips for selling a beach house.

Know the best time to sell

Undoubtedly, you can sell your home any time of the year — especially if the price is right — however, when it comes to a beach house, there is a window of time during the year when buyers are considering investing in a second-home getaway. Best time to sell depends on the market, but generally, people are looking for a perfect beach house between late winter and early spring.

For example, people are selling a beach house in Charleston with local realtors, FSBO and pocket listings. This is more common than you might think around the country, too.

Though, in the depth of winter, buyers will rarely focus on a second home; no one will want to walk on a cold gray beach to view a possible summer house. But between late winter and early spring, people are considering a summer vacation, and this could be the ideal time to list your beach house.

Choose the Right agent

Not every real estate agent will have the experience needed to sell a waterfront property. Make sure you choose a real estate professional who is familiar with the peculiarities that are involved in beach houses. Unlike selling your primary residence, selling a beach house is much like selling stock; the proceeds from the sale are considered capital gain, therefore, you will have to pay capital gain tax. The real estate professional you choose must be familiar with such issues and other market elements of beach houses.

Stage your beach house

Staging a house is the most important part of selling. Staging a typical house is not a big deal, but when it comes to a beach house, you will have to market it specifically for vacation buyers. Of course, you will need to de-clutter the house, organize it, depersonalize it, clean it and arrange it accordingly, but more importantly, you will need to beautify the shoreline.

Set the right Price

In addition to listing your beach house at the right time, pricing the house competitively from the beginning is important. If the price is too high, customer may not be interest in it, and if it is too low, you may end up losing potential customers or money. If you initially set a high price, then you reconsider reducing it, customers may assume that the house value has declined, and you end up losing potential customers. A real estate professional can help you set the right price, but there are also tonnes of systems and calculation that when combined, can give you a good idea on the right price of your property.

Conclusion

Selling a beach house can be hard, but if you take your time to prepare, you can increase your odds of selling it quickly and for the right time. More importantly, know the right time to sell and work with a real estate professional who specializes with beachfront houses.