Finding an apartment can be a lot of work, regardless of your circumstances. However, the rental process can become even more stressful if you’re on a time crunch and need to rent an apartment in a week.
Things to do to rent an apartment in a week
Sometimes, life throws a curveball and you need to move out and into your new place in just a few days. How do you go about doing that?
We’re here to walk you through all the things you’ll need to do to find and rent apartments in a week.
1. Notify your current landlord
Whether you’re moving because of work, family or an unforeseen event, you’ll need to let your current landlord know that you’re leaving and terminate your lease. If your rental agreement is month-to-month, it’s ideal to move at the end of the month so you don’t have to pay an additional month’s worth of rent.
If you’re in a fixed-term lease, you’ll need to talk to your property manager about ending the lease early, what penalties you’ll need to pay (if any) and when you’ll have completely vacated the apartment. It’s always smart to conduct these types of conversations via email and in person, so you have a paper trail to document events.
2. Create your apartment wish list
When apartment hunting, people usually have a list of their wants, needs and non-negotiable items. For example, you may want a pool and gym included in the complex, need two bedrooms and will not tolerate an apartment that’s been smoked in.
If you’re looking to rent an apartment in a week, you may have to be more flexible on your wish list as options may be slim on such short notice. However, it’s essential to have an apartment wish list to help narrow the search and find the right place for you. After all, this will be your new home and you want to enjoy it.
Before you begin your search to rent an apartment in a week, take an hour to write an apartment wish list and break it into three sections:
- Must include these features
- Can include these features but not essential
- Deal-breaker features
Example of an apartment wish list
| Must include these features | Can include these features, but not essential | Deal-breaker features |
|---|---|---|
| Pet-friendly | On-site security | HOA fee |
| 2-bedrooms | Pool and gym | Smoking allowed |
| Monthly rent between $1,000-$1,200 | Walk-in closet | Non-covered parking |
These three criteria can help you find your new place of residence on a short timetable.
3. Prepare your budget and paperwork
To find and rent apartments in a week, renters will need to have their finances and paperwork in order. This can help you stay organized and expedite the rental process.
Budget
Moving is always a good opportunity to re-evaluate your spending habits and update your budget. It lets you see what you can afford to pay month-to-month and helps narrow down the apartment hunt. Once you’ve identified your budget for rent, you can search for apartments based on that number.
Keep in mind that you’ll likely need to pay first and last month’s rent and a security deposit, so pencil that into your new budget. You may also have to pay a penalty for ending your current lease early, so factor that in, too!
Paperwork
Renting a new apartment requires a lot of paperwork. So, if you can have that put together in advance, you’re going to be ahead of the game. Some things to start getting ready for a rental application include:
- Proof of income documents
- Personal references
- Identification
- Rental history
4. Research apartments
Now that you have (most) of your ducks in a row, it’s time to start searching for the actual apartment. Nowadays, you can use many different resources to find apartments. These can include:
- Asking friends for rental recommendations
- Posting on social media to ask for open rental locations
- Reading forums or classified ads for openings
- Cruising your neighborhood and looking for open houses
- Researching on apartment-related websites to find places
Any of these options work and when you’re looking to rent in seven days or less, you probably want to use a variety of tactics.
Once you’ve found a few places that pique your interest, start scheduling tours and calling the rental offices immediately. You’ll need to schedule virtual or in-person tours, discuss the tight move-in timeline with the landlord and get the rental application process started ASAP.
5. Minimize the packing
Packing up your existing belongings and moving them to the new location can take a lot of time and resources. But, there are ways to minimize the hassle if you prepare ahead of time. To save time and effort when moving, think strategically about what needs to go.
Before the move, consider sorting through your things to see what you can purge and donate. This tactic alone can help you get rid of a lot of things that you don’t want to move from point A to point B.
Don’t spend time boxing up drawers and dressers that can be transported as-is. If the item can stay in its current location, let it stay. Only box up things that actually need a box. Likewise, when packing up a moving truck, stack your items strategically to save on space.
Lastly, if you can afford to hire movers, this may be a scenario to consider doing so. Hiring movers can free up some of your time. While the movers are boxing and relocating your things, you have some extra time to search for the perfect home. If that’s not an option, plan your calendar accordingly and dedicate at least a full day to move. If you’re moving out of state, you’ll need more time.
Planning can help rent an apartment in a week
When people rent apartments in a week, it’s usually because they need to move quickly and efficiently. Because moving can be stressful and finding a home is an important life decision, planning ahead as much as you can will help alleviate stress and ensure you’re finding the right apartment that fits your needs.
