You’re thrilled because you finally found an affordable apartment you love and can’t wait to move in. But wait! Before you sign a lease, take the time to conduct a thorough apartment inspection. That way, if you find any problems, from low water pressure in the bathroom to a broken lock on a bedroom window, you can ask your landlord take care of the issue before you move in. You should inspect the apartment methodically, slowly going through each room, and listing any problems. There are apartment inspection checklists available online that assures that you don’t leave anything out.

Some of the items on your apartment inspection checklist include:

1. Check the exterior of the building. All gates, stairs, driveways and garages, and front doors should be in good repair. Make sure the locks work and the door seals soundly.
2. Inspect the floors, ceilings, and walls. The paint or wallpaper should be fairly fresh, the carpets shouldn’t be torn or stained, and there should be holes, cracks or mold.
3. Check out the windows for cracks, and if there are screens, look for holes or tears. Newer windows will provide better insulation from heat and cold as well as keeping out the noise. Also check to make sure all windows lock securely.
4. In both the kitchen and bathroom, turn on the faucets and check the water pressure. If it’s low you can ask to have it repaired. Flush the toilet and check for any leaks. Take a peek at the stove, oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher to see that they are in good working order. An overly loud refrigerator can be a sign of problems ahead.
5. Look at heating vents, ceiling and oven fans, electrical outlets, and light switches, and test them to make sure they work.
6. Your safety is important. Look to see that there are smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in hallways and bedrooms, and ask about sprinklers. Make sure apartments on upper floors have fire escapes and windows in each bedroom.
7. If the apartment complex has an elevator, check to see if the inspection certificate is posted and that the elevator itself is clean and well maintained.
8. Remember to ignore the current tenant’s furniture and other personal items. Picture the apartment filled with your belongings.

After your apartment inspection, go over you think should be fixed before you move in, with the landlord, and request that these issues be addressed before you sign the lease.