Renters Survival Guide: How to Find an Apartment/Flat (ft. Liam Dryden)!

[@OrUptotheStars]

Always always always read your contract before signing.

[@feitocomfruta]

Not just that, but if you can get a final walk through before signing the contract and getting the keys, make notes of ALL imperfections or damages that are existing in the apartment. Most realtors helping you buy a house or condo will make sure that your initial offer has a note stating the deal is "contingent on an acceptable and successful home inspection." You can't really do the same with a rental, but making note of these things will ensure that you and your landlord know what is and isn't your responsibility upon moving out. For example, I missed a clause in my renter's guide that said I had to have the carpets shampooed upon moving out, and I had to provide them with the receipt, or else they would deduct the cost out of my deposit. So my initial deposit check of $750 came back at about $695 or so.

[@stephypop212]

well you lost me at "have friends" disappointing

[@withorwithoutnuts]

I feel your pain.

[@withorwithoutnuts]

***** Both? Excuse me? You implying that I'm not apart of this attractive circle?

[@stephypop212]

We're all in this attractive circle hahah :D

[@stephypop212]

Awww so sweet... Thank you!! 😘😘😘

[@Neptune8]

If I'm going to judge by your picture , you seem to be attractive and female.. which would lead me to believe you infact have tons of friends

[@HensaStralem]

Step 1: Get a job that actually pays enough to allow you to rent an apartment.

[@dasdew2]

*****​ become a engineer, doctor, lawyer or dentist. Or be a successful business man, either way, hard work and study

[@missovercomer2488]

+dasdew2 u don't need to become those things to make money

[@havrefrasss]

+HensaStralem or, (where i live) take an education and live of the money you get from the state.

[@Kain5th]

Step 5: don't live in California

[@sylviahinton8551]

DONT become a doctor

[@dankane441]

Another tip- make sure you are aware of the level of crime in your area. It's worth paying slightly more for safety, particularly if you are living alone/ with a kid!

[@I-Isa7]

^^ someone once said drive by through at night, to check out the "vibes" so once in the daytime, and once at night time!

[@ljmastertroll]

Don't forget to search for signs of rat and cockroach infestations!

[@laurenneblett7709]

This advice is more for when you have decided on an apartment and leased it and all that jazz: TAKE PICTURES!!! LOTS OF THEM!! SERIOUSLY ALL THE PICTURES!! In my experience living on complexes, within the first few weeks after move in the office will have you make a list of all the things wrong/ broken. This doesn't mean they will keep it on record or serve as "proof" when you move out. So take pictures of anything that is broken, dirty, stained, or just doesn't seem right and keep them on file digitally with the date they were taken. Additionally, take pictures of everything when you move out. With this you need to be more meticulous. Take pictures not only of the things that are still broken (if they were like that when you moved in), but also of everything you have cleaned. Don't be afraid to take like 40 shots of your bathroom at every angle. Story time: At one point I was sharing an apartment with 4 other people (already a huge mistake) and I was the third person to finish moving out. I had done the bulk of the cleaning and left thinking everything was peachy. 30 days later I get a letter from the leasing office that I was not getting my deposit back, but also owed more than $700 in fees! Turns out the last person to move out (who conveniently didn't sign onto the actual lease) had peed all over the carpet and legally didn't have to pay a penny of that fee. Had I taken pictures upon my move-out, I would have had proof that I had no part, and no right to pay.

[@crowthey]

If it's an apartment I like, or even think I might like, I always go in with a cover letter and proof of income, printed out and signed, ready to hand to the rental agent/landlord on the spot. This shows them that you're ready to go and reliable. In mid-size to big cities I've lived in, this has helped me nab a great apartment several times. And of course, if you get there and it turn out the apartment isn't what you pictured, your letters can stay safely tucked away in your bag, and no one's the wiser.

[@akshatap7377]

That feel when David Tennant teaches you how to find an apartment

[@hanacameron112]

My thought throughout the entire video!

[@racheltano3724]

lol, yes!!

[@Rithene]

I'm just going to put this out there: living with someone you know, like, and trust is all very well and good, but you can run into problems if you're in a tiny apartment (or dorm room) with someone like that, especially if you've never shared a room before. People who know each other well tend to be less respectful of each other's space and possessions, and less polite when it comes to conflict. So, basically, if you're living in a small space with someone you know well, especially if you're sharing a bedroom, just make sure to discuss what you are and are not okay with, lest you end up unable to stand being with your friend.

[@naota3k]

I think Liam might actually be The Doctor.

[@blairassani7595]

Confirmed

[@fermata13]

Pro tip for making your life exponentially better: Always make sure your landlord or leasing office is concomitant and helpful. You might find your dream apartment, and have a really, really bad time because of a bad staff. Helpful, friendly staff will make ALL the difference.

[@beccafrances31]

Just to clarify David Tennant is not hosting this show. XD

[@howlouttonight]

What if you don't have friends who want to live where you are going to/friends who already have living arrangements settled? I'm beginning to see that I might need to have a roommate, but I don't think I know anyone I could live with.

[@RileyKathleen72]

Check out craigslist, newspapers, even coffee shops/campus bulletins/that sort of thing. You'll either be looking for someone with a room for rent who is looking for another roommate, OR you can do the same yourself and put up ads looking for a roommate. Just, you know, be careful of scams on craigslist. Always try to meet in person/see a place in person. Even if that means you have to find a weekend or a few days to spend where ever you're moving to so you can check things out yourself. That's what I'm going to have to do when I move, because I'm trying to move to a city in another state where I don't know anyone. :)

[@MedousaChan]

If you're going to college, you could live alone for a bit and try to find someone once there. I have friends who did that and it actually worked, they met at school and decided they both wanted an apartment close to school, so they moved in together. Just be sure you could actually live with that person hahaha

[@itsGabrielaCristina]

You can always lower your expectations and live in a small studio by yourself...

[@nezyrevos]

Another option is to rent a room from someone in their house for a while until you make some friends in your area or find another place that you want to live. Craigslist has a lot of 'room for rent' postings.

[@katalyst552]

This is easier for me if I actually have friends...

[@sarapopham7897]

On my 3rd apartment in the city I currently live in and FINALLY things seem to be going well. My first apartment I was basically living in a closet with a window less than a foot wide. My second apartment required me to walk for 25 minutes to get to the T (not fun in two feet of snow in the winter in Boston). BUT THIS PLACE is basically perfect. 5 minute walk to the T, laundry in the basement, large rooms, a dishwasher, heat included in the rent, and living with one of my best friends. It is possible!! But you have to work hard to find it and struggle through some not-so-ideal places first usually.

[@feitocomfruta]

If I've learned anything from Property Brothers, it is that this triforce exists, but of the three items, the only one you can really control is "the dream flat". It's going to take some work, but you make your home your own. So make the checklist as suggested, but sort it into Must Haves, Really Wants, and Dream Luxuries. For example: for me, a MUST HAVE is that rent must be inclusive of water, HVAC, electricity, and garbage. A REALLY WANT for me is an in-unit Washer/Dryer (but the complex or building must have a laundry room with a reasonable price for usage. A DREAM LUXURY would be a jacuzzi tub to soak in or a high end kitchen, or that rent also includes high-speed internet and satellite TV.

[@unepommeverte17]

that's really weird....i've had like none of those experiences, and i'm on my second apartment (third living place- one was a house) in 3 years. i have a feeling it might be different in american college towns, especially when the college only has dorms for freshmen, so 75% of the student body lives off campus. but i've never had a "group viewing" and i've never heard of a leasing office that's not right there in the apartment complex.

[@mickycarcar]

College towns have their own set of problems. I live in one and I have done a group viewing once. But the general lack of rental agencies means most of the apartments are run completely by their mostly apathetic landlords who have no reason to keep them up since they have guaranteed student renters lined up.

[@BethEades]

See, I've never heard of a letting office IN the apartment complex - although that might be because apartment complexes aren't really a 'thing' in the UK. Group viewings certainly are though! In UK student towns most students live in town too (first years and study abroad only on campus) so there's lots of competition for nice student housing, since lots of landlords won't rent to students/their mortgage won't let. Different strokes for different folks/nations I guess.

[@ReikaSensei]

I've never had a group viewing either both when I was in a college town and when I moved out to apartments on my own. I think it's kind of a difference in terms of area or even in terms of country? At least when it comes to apartments in every place I've ever been in California. Often there's a centralized manager's office or something tied directly to the complex and in some areas it's actually pretty rare that the complex is owned by a sole landlord. There've been a number of places I've been to and checked out where a larger corporate entity actually owns and administers several buildings or complexes and just hires someone to be an on-site manager who either just comes in to man the manager's office or lives on the property itself in a specific unit that is marked on the front door to contact. When I was in a college town it was kind of "worse" in that the larger corporate entity basically owned the whole city whether you were a student or a regular person with a family. (I went to school in Irvine, California and the entire city is literally owned by the Irvine company with each complex having its own leasing office). Group viewings though at least in Cali sound more like the open houses that real estate agents hold for people who want to actually buy property like houses or condos. For sale units or houses usually have a digitally locked lock box that can only be opened by registered agents who come by with clients to do a viewing.

[@unepommeverte17]

Reika yeah i agree with you i'm also in california but way farther north in davis. there are a few different property owners that own a few different complexes in my area (like one owns three or four, another owns a few more and has some deal with the university to house transfer students) so at least it's not a monopoly. and here it's like, the cheaper it is, the less nice it is. so it's not like they're ALL bad. also i didn't even think about open houses since buying a house is like a whole different world from renting an apartment, but that's totally right with the "group viewings". that even gets competitive too- my family and some of our family friends were both moving to the same town around the same time. a new house came on the market, and we went to go see it. they were away for the weekend and were going to look at it when they got back. when they did get back, their agent told them that the house already had an offer on it. their dad was complaining about it (because the house had only been up for about 3 days, and some houses in the area had been up for 6 or more months) at a party and my dad was like .....uuhhh yeah hi that's me :P

[@junglekiity]

My one piece of advice: discounts exist! Some apartment agencies do discounted rates for teachers, military, government employees, etc. Don't be shy about asking! I'm a teacher, and got a job DAYS before the school year started, but was able to hit all three areas of the triforce because I got a kickass teacher discount.

[@kieoncoleman9810]

Do you think there would be any discounts for HVAC Technicians? (Kind of a dumb question, I would imagine they don't, but I had to ask...since we could work on their AC and jazz.)

[@awynn32]

I'm the one that requested this on twitter, thank you for doing a video on it! Kind of ironic timing considering I put down a deposit on a place the day before this went up haha. But still very good advice, it's soo competitive out there!

[@littlemariecat]

Also for features you consider a part of a dream apartment, make a list of priorities ranking from how inflexible and flexible and keep in mind to not let aesthetics over take practical/ quality. An apartment might look nice but be riddled with problems that can be anywhere from a hassle to just plain dangerous. ALWAYS read the leasing agreement before signing and keep a copy of it, I learned this the hard way.

[@Batman-nz2ue]

Talk so fast I had rewatch again! Summary: - search online, ask "letting agencies" - Triangle (Affordability, availability, the dream flat), - be decisive quickly (having a "meets your expectations/needs" checklist helps eg: close/easy access to school/job? within price range? enough space to do stuff? well-lit?), - if 50-75% of your checklist is met just put in a "note of interest" just in case you can't find any other place, - think about your visualization of how you'll use the space. - have friends to share a flat with, help you look around or check out a flat for you if search from a far distance/efficiency, doing it as a team is easier.

[@kimberleychang]

Wish you'd had this video a couple months ago! With the lack of availability in my city, we had to do our apartment hunting at least a month in advance, and most places were gone within a day or two of being posted!

[@AllieBoomer]

A pleasant surprise to see Liam on this channel! I wish I had seen this before I started looking for the place I am now.

[@KunkelBae]

My top concern: is that inexpensive flat I like walking distance from public transportation.

[@1SuperJule]

I need to find more friends..... #IntrovertProblems

[@qilathe1]

Okay, but why is the theme song a higher pitch?

[@carma91]

I've rented two different places, the first place was actually one of my college teacher's rental properties that she offereed to us because we told her we were looking for a place. Our second place (which is actually a house), we found on kijiji (like craigslist), it was miles better than our first place. Better location, better space, and about the same price! I wouldn't expect to get a great place for the first place, once you get experience on knowing the right things to ask and look for, it'll only get better from there. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to have roommates though but it's just not possible! :( Affordable to get a good place in a great location only if I have two roommates, but they are people I was already friends with, so it really is okay, roommates aren't too bad.

[@blvckdymond9777]

Where did you get the cube storage behind you

[@quixiiify]

Your accent is amazing.

[@cristianvaladez3698]

Quixii Q what are some of the things you had on this list?

[@IrishCassidy]

If heat is included, make sure that it states that in your lease. This way, if the owner sells the building, you will have that while the lease lasts..

[@PogieJoe]

Great stuff, Liam. You were awesome! :D

[@brianshea2515]

Having a roommate for your first apartment is a good idea. Having a friend for a roommate depends can be good or bad. If your roommate is messy, and you are not (or vica versa), this will cause problems. I've seen plenty of friendships end due to living situations. If your roommate is a stranger, you lose someone who isn't so important to you. How do you find a non friend, who has similar home needs?

[@Betsy7Cat]

Is it just me or is the intro's pitch higher than usual? Not really relevant to the actual topic but I'm curious, I compared it and it does seem to be, am I going crazy? XD

[@CanadianRM4]

It is. Duh.

[@robbymacfarland8954]

Renters Survival Guide: How to Find an Apartment/Flat (ft. Younger David Tennant)!

[@kathy6733]

That was helpful! Thank you💕💕💕

[@yknowthatgirl]

Everything is better with Liam. That's a fact.

[@asymmetricartist5647]

QUESTION: why was the intro tune in a different key (like music key lol)

[@PlanwithJohn]

"Have Friends" -best advice

[@isabelechevarria2499]

What kind of advice can you offer for someone that is moving to an entirely different city and currently does not know anyone there?

[@Yuliana_lisova]

Could you, please, share if you were looking for rent on line, what sites have you used? Or did you go to the agency?

[@holydarkness90]

This is really sound advice for someone in my circumstances right now. I may not be back in school atm but I got out of college last December and finally got my first job in March. I have been saving up to get a place with a friend of mine but now I need to get a new job cause my hours got cut really bad and the job has got really nasty both physically and mentally. I don't know whether I should go back to school or just try to get a new job asap any advice would be nice. I also am wanting to start a youtube channel for fun in the next few months so yeah

[@TrueGilby]

It took us 2 years, but my girlfriend and I got the apartment we wanted that we can afford and it was obviously available. Honestly, though, we got lucky.

[@Mariapink100]

Why is the intro song in a higher key? Great video!

[@MedousaChan]

For people moving out of their parents' house, don't think " I'm gonna live in this place for so long, it has to be perfect! ". Chances are, it's not gonna be perfect, and you can always move away in a year or so.

[@Mrvwcc11]

Thanks for the advice I will remember these steps and I think they will help me in life. :)

[@GuineaCat12]

How to purchase a home?

[@Iliketaruto]

Love the advice and the accent!! (logging this information away for when I won't be living on campus)

[@Fralmunk]

I have an unreasonable crush on this stranger.

[@korynnininm]

Also if you live in a rural area where well water is common see if you can taste the water

[@MonoEnta]

My dream is an attic suite which does not exist in my area :’(

[@Shahmario]

Me: "Wow this is a really informative video, I think I can actually do this!" Liam: "Have Friends!!!" Me:"...welp"

[@HeartlessAndUndead]

I needed this video so bad

[@Idellle]

I wrote an ad on the internet that I search for an apartment and I got one the next day. I will move next week.

[@waynestorey8174]

thank you very helpful

[@yarlzxmyrsh]

Perfect timing.

[@loranddeka]

Make sure the apartment will fill your future needs. What will your life be like a year from now, 2 years from now, 5 years from now.

[@14lanicup]

I'm going to go a view a four bedroom apartment near my school for next year in Wednesday. It's affordable and avail be but its not my dream flat but TBH having those two things I'd rather have those than another combo of the 3.

[@KatColvin]

Oh yea, the *who* to love with can be quite tricksy

[@charlotl]

The flatmate video would be really really useful- obviously you'd hope to have found a stable-ish group to live with, but still.

[@aliciarichards7987]

Where can I go to find apartments

[@katyawhite4517]

Thanks, Liam! I had to sacrifice affordability if I wanted to be anywhere near my university. :/ But I have friends to share with!

[@TylerMayMedia]

Great How To Adult. Good job Liam!

[@SMFortissimo]

Great! Now, can you do a segment about finding a flat in Japan? No really, I'm serious. I mean, I know apartments in Japan are small, but there's gotta be something better than what my company sat me with.

[@TiffTaro]

As someone living in Tokyo, what your company gave you is probably better then what you could find on your own. If you have questions just ask me. I've lived in Tokyo for about 4 years.

[@huppimmuppim]

Yeah, what the person above said. Also, it's not easy for a foreign to rent (without a Japanese guarantor) in Japan. (I'm a Japan born-and-bred gaijin :) )

[@ReikaSensei]

What they said above is pretty true. It's usually pretty difficult to rent as a foreigner without having Japanese friends to act as a guarantor. If you really want to try, the only company I know of that does anything to make the renting process for foreigners even remotely easier is Sakura House for the Tokyo area. I don't have any experience working with them, but I've seen their ads around before and they look alright. It's not like there are a whole lot of other options.

[@SMFortissimo]

Thanks for the tip!

[@huppimmuppim]

SMFortissimo I would be careful with Sakura House. I've heard bad things (never used it myself,though). Did a bit of quick research and found some former tenants online sharing their bad experiences. You might want to look at those first before trying with Sakura House. Who knows, maybe things have changed? Good luck!

[@YBW662]

Wait. U have to share with others?

[@SamiSioux]

Liam is my favorite.

[@una_10bananas]

how had I never seen this video? I miss Liam

[@ParagonBeaumont]

I somehow got an apartment, but I need to find roommates and get a different apartment cause it'd be nice to start saving money.

[@destinyjones6023]

750 a month which is for college students but leasing is 200 application is 20 or 100, you might not be picked tho

[@LucidScreening]

Spot on!

[@Stones223]

Thank you!! this was mega helpful. Also, Liam, your apartment is awesome.

[@Clemmy54]

This guy needs some more coffee.

[@LauraDFTBA]

And if you have no friends... well you're screwed.

[@ss4vegeta1]

I have no friends, know of no agencies and everything is super expensive. I hate this process!

[@1234kalmar]

I guessed right, his accent is indeed scottish! :3

[@karina_sk]

Please do a video on choosing flatmates!

[@Razberries44]

Also, in America remember your checkbook.

[@morganjsmith1710]

I’ve found my dream flat it’s affordable and available but not until next year

[@gabrielatlas5347]

so I thought u look a bit like David Tennant's Doctor then I noticed the Tardises behind and was like: HIT THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON I'm gonna like u

[@melanya.a1452]

Just wanna say I love u guys :)

[@coleslaw8493]

im just looking for some where i can afford

[@stephjane31103]

LIAM

[@ComradeDt]

I want to move out

[@mrross1606]

He is so right u can never have 3 u must give up one

[@mariamdiop4722]

I M SORRY I DONT HAVE FRIENDS AND IM NOT TAKING A COLOCATION SORRY NOT SORRY I WANT MY OWN PLACE WITH MY CAT 👍 BUT OMG THANKS FOR THE VIDEO I WAS PROBABLY GONNA LOOK FOR SOME OVER EXPENSIVE PLACE AND RUIN MY CREDIT. IVE SETTLED FOR A 2 ROOM APPART THATS IN MY BUDGET THX TO U

[@MyBrainsOnVacation]

He forgot the catchphrase.

[@lefenec]

"Have friends" oh nevermind...

[@Neptune8]

I don't have any friends , not even joking

[@HeyitsmeGahbriehla]

Omg this channel!!!

[@Fahodinho]

Just have friends 4Head

[@iamspartacus9110]

dude was talking so fast i had to watch this 3 times

[@GalacticBlader]

who is this kid!!?!?? he looks like hes 12!

[@EaglesQuestions]

I found this vid more discouraging than anything.

[@TikiShootah]

what the fuck is a flat.....something tells me this advise doenst translate pass his boarders.

[@MightyHeracross]

He literally says a flat is an apartment where he is from in like the first 20 secs haha watch the video before raging

[@cutiepie-vf5pe]

chill

[@jaygotthefunda1656]

Didnt really help but thanks anyways ig .....

[@candisthomas3245]

Jesus you talk pretty fast!! b

[@crowlovescore]

I have friends, but none of them needed a flat when I did in the same city :/ The people I live with are nice, but living with friends is nicer.

[@aliciarichards7987]

Fast

[@ZomBeeNature]

I was so distracted by the way you talk that I didnt hear anything you said... I sort of "collect" accents and yours is a mishmash of fake ones, as if you are trying to pronounce in a Canada/USA way but actually not pronouncing in any way ever heard on Earth before... Everyone, please watch my tiny nature videos. There is no talking in them. Shhh!

[@isaacmayer407]

Cringey intro

[@katalyst552]

This is easier for me if I actually have friends...