Finding a new home can be fun but there’s also a feeling of trepidation. Can you get that balance of being close to your preferred lifestyle plus a small commute?

Will your budget stretch far enough? Will your landlord allow pets? There are so many aspects to think about. It’s easy to see why it can be stressful. There are lots of locations to research and it’s handy to have a tool to help with this.

We’ve put together the main things to consider when finding your next apartments for rent in Raleigh.

List your requirements

There will most likely be a long, wish list if you think about your dream home. However, the best way to make sure you concentrate on what’s most important is to think about what is a ‘must have’ in your new apartment and what is a ‘nice to have’.

Must haves could be the commuting distance from work. Maybe you want to be located on a particular floor of a building. Do you need a balcony or some outside space to keep you sane? If these things would bother you within 6 months they are a necessity.

Nice to have items could be that there’s a park nearby, or that you’re a few metro stops closer to friends. Consider all the features you would like in that new home and sort them into these categories.

Budget

Decide your budget and stick to it. Try to work out a price range you can comfortably manage with your other commitments. This will fluctuate slightly depending on the areas you look at. Would you rather spend more or less on rent or would you would prefer saving some money or using it for a pastime that you love.

This is completely personal as one person may feel happier in a more expensive location near to friends, while another might forgo this and save for trips away or other interests.

Location

So you may have decided on your town or city, such as Boston which we are looking at today, but which neighborhood suits you best? Is it close to other aspects of your life?

Be sure to walk the areas you’re considering and get a feel for the neighborhood. Are the people there a similar age and demographic to you? Would you find it easy to make friends or feel part of the community?

Apartment hunting in Boston is actually really enjoyable. It is one of the best places to live in the USA. Has a vibrant atmosphere with arts, sports, a good job market and a slightly European feel. It’s a lovely place to raise a family or start out as a professional.

There are some wonderful apartments and houses to rent in the city or in the suburbs such as Belmont, Beacon Hill and Cambridge. For those needing a lower budget there are the up and coming areas of Roslindale or East Boston.

Searching for your new apartment

Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few areas and set your budget you can start the search. This part can be overwhelming but luckily there are some brilliant tools available to make the process easier.

Using an apartment search resource such as Zumper, you can filter by location, price range and bedroom count. But that’s not all, you can also find out if the property is pet-friendly and set up alerts to receive notifications when a new listing is posted. You get these alerts in real-time so you’re the first to know when a home becomes available.

Zumper makes the process incredibly simple as you can apply online to your preferred apartment with a digital rental application and include credit reports with Zumper's screening service.

Stay focused

Now you’ve got a list of properties to view, what questions do you need to ask?

Talk about utilities and their average costs. Do you need the property furnished or unfurnished and can the landlord accommodate this? Do you have a pet and is this acceptable to them? What’s the parking like? Even if you don’t have a car, your visitors might. Are there any communal areas?

Instinct is also quite important. Don’t overlook this. If the apartment seems perfect but something is bothering you it probably isn’t the one. It’s also easy to get taken in by a beautiful place or amazing view but when this happens go back to your list of must-haves and then look at your budget. Does the apartment fit these? If not, painful as it may be this isn’t the home for you.

The good news there will be a property that you know is The One when you walk in and it will tick most of the boxes on your list! That feeling is amazing and you’ll be off to make memories in your new home.

So don’t worry about the process of finding a new apartment. Take things step by step and using the right tools you can make it an enjoyable experience.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.