Some of you may remember that a while back I wrote an article titled 10 Tips For First-Time Apartment Renters that outlined 10 things I thought were important for when you go apartment hunting. However, I have a new one to add to the list – to ask for a discount or a special on your new place, especially if it is one of those bigger complexes that have a manager on-site. As I mentioned yesterday, I am packing again for a move out of this house and into an apartment, so trust me on this one – I just asked for, and received, a huge deal on my new home. (More on why I am moving in a later post)
The place I am moving to is a big complex with absolutely beautiful apartments. But with the economy the way it is today, not a lot of people are moving to new homes – they are staying put and waiting it out. So right now, many apartment buildings are looking for new residents and ways to entice them to move to their building – offering things like upgraded appliances, 12 month rent discounts, gym memberships, etc.. When I found my new home, I noticed that they were running 2 different specials at the time:
1. No security deposit on approved credit (No problem there, my credit score hovers around 800)
2. 1/2 month free rent with a 12 month lease
Both were really great deals, especially #1, as oftentimes they want a full month’s rent as a security deposit. But with my excellent credit, I wouldn’t have to give them a dime to move in. Score! But #2 intrigued me, as I wondered that if they were willing to give away 1/2 month free rent…would they be willing to give away an entire month’s free rent?
So I asked.
And I received.
The manager agreed to give me my first month’s rent for absolutely nothing if I signed a lease before the end of October – meaning November is free. That is a savings of $1,300 that I can put towards my moving costs. And if I hadn’t asked, I would have only gotten $650 off my rent, so a simple 1 sentence question saved me an additional $650. Throw in the fact that I don’t have to pay a security deposit either, and my total savings on move-in add up to $2,600. That’s no pocket change, and all I had to do was ask.
So next time you move into an apartment, make sure you ask if there are any discounts or specials they can provide. If they like you, and you have good credit, you just may save yourself a small fortune!
Photo from Shutterstock
