Five Questions To Ask During An Apartment Tour In Plainfield

May 28, 2020

Touring apartments is a crucial step in deciding if that a particular community is where you want to live. But while you’re inspecting the kitchen and closet space on your Plainfield apartment tour, you should also use the time to ask your tour guide some deeper questions. These questions can help you determine the atmosphere and personal attention the complex can offer. After all, your apartment will be your home for a time, and it’s good to understand just what you’re signing up for. To begin, here’s a list of the 5 questions to ask during an apartment tour in Plainfield.

What Is The Community’s Pet Policy?

Pets in a pet friendly apartment

Many complexes market themselves as pet-friendly apartments in Plainfield, but that term can mean a few different things. Some apartments have restrictions on dog breeds you can own, or how many animals can live in the apartment. Certain pet policies prohibit small animals, such as rats, hamsters, birds, or lizards. And all pet policies usually charge additional rent for your animals -- and some may even charge a cleaning fee upon move out.

Asking about the pet policy is very important if you have a cat or dog, or you’re wanting to get one in the near future. After all, you’d like your pet to be just as happy in the apartment as you are. However, it's also a great question to ask on an apartment tour if you’re not a pet owner. That way, you know what critters you might cross paths with on a day-to-day basis. Also think of asking what pet-friendly amenities the community has -- like dog parks or convenient waste disposal sacks.

How Will I Pay Rent And Utilities?

Many years ago, rent was always paid by dropping off a check at the front office. Today, there might be many ways to pay rent. Does the company have a web portal or can they link direct deposit through my bank? Can I put it on my credit card and receive reward points for my rent payment? Some complexes might even let you pay through trusted payment systems like PayPal or Venmo. Asking how you pay rent while on an apartment tour can be key for those who are traveling a lot or need a more convenient option for paying rent.

Understanding the details about utilities can also make your life easier during your lease. What utilities come with rent? Can you add utilities to my rent check? Are utilities, like water and gas, set by communal use or are they calculated by individual apartments? Do I have a choice on the internet, phone, or cable providers, or am I limited to the same provider as everyone else in the community? These questions may seem cut and dry, but sometimes the answers are different than you'd expect.

What Amenities Can I Use?

Swimming pool in a JC Hart community

Your Plainfield apartment tour should also include a quick look. During your Plainfield apartment tour you should also look at the amenities and grounds. Although a short overview of what a community offers is helpful, you may wish to ask more about residents' day-to-day usage of the complexes’ amenities.

If you want to exercise in the early morning or at night to accommodate your daily schedule, be sure to ask about the fitness center’s hours -- and when it’s the busiest. Families may want to understand what the children’s policy is for the gym or pool and hot tub. If you’d love an apartment that’s not just a space to lay your head down at night, but a community to fully enjoy, it’s important to ask about amenities during your apartment tour. The answers may influence your final choice between two apartments in Plainfield.

How Do You Handle Maintenance Requests?

Bedroom door of an apartment

Before you conclude your apartment tour, remember to ask about how they handle maintenance. Maintenance policies can vary a lot, from 24-hour onsite availability to contract contractors that should be booked during normal business hours. Unforeseen problems do happen from time-to-time, but it’s how your maintenance requests are handled that can make or break your apartment experience.

When you ask about maintenance, don’t be afraid to be thorough. Does the apartment have emergency on-site maintenance, or can they only work on repairs during normal business hours? Who do I call about an emergency? Can I go online to complete request maintenance? And how will I be notified when they’ve completed the repair? It’s also a good idea to ask what work won’t be covered by maintenance personnel, such as washer/dryer installation or new paint.

What Is The Parking Situation?

Parking lot at a JC Hart community

When you ask questions on your apartment tour in Plainfield, don’t forget to ask what you do with your car. Do I need an assigned place to park, or is parking open to whoever gets there first? Do I need a parking sticker or hang-tag for my vehicle, and what if my family has multiple vehicles? Are there individual garages or carports available? And remember to inquire about the towing procedure. The last thing you need is to discover the perfect apartment, but realize that you need to stalk the block repeatedly to get a curbside space.

Crossing 5 Will Answer All Your Questions During Your Apartment Tour In Plainfield

Schedule your tour with Crossing 5 today, and we’ll answer each of your questions while giving you a tour of one of our apartments. Just call (317) 561-0907 or click the “schedule a tour” button. And it’s a good idea to ask your partner or roommates to tag along, as they may ask some questions, too! Can’t visit the property? Virtual tours are available!