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Apartment Search Careers Home View Properties× Home Blog Privacy Policy Find yourself home. 763 . 367 . 7400 763 . 367 . 7150 8325 Wayzata Blvd Suite #200 Golden Valley, MN 55426 Call Office 763 . 367 . 7400 763 . 367 . 7150 8325 Wayzata Blvd Suite #200 Golden Valley, MN 55426From Quiet Suburban, To Very Urban Find Yourself Home Bigos Explorer is our blog where we share what’s new and exciting in Twin Cities events, culture, apartments and beyond. Apartment-Friendly Cooking: 10 Quick and Delicious Recipes for Busy Urban Dwellers by Bigos Management | April 18, 2024 Living in a bustling city often means juggling busy schedules and limited time for elaborate cooking. However, that doesn’t mean you have .. 0 0 1 Exploring the Advantages of Renting vs. Owning a Home by Bigos Management | April 11, 2024 In the age-old debate of renting versus owning a home, both options have their merits. While homeownership may be considered a traditional .. 0 0 3 Twin Cities Craft Breweries: A Tour of 10 Exceptional Taprooms by Bigos Management | April 3, 2024 Welcome to the Twin Cities, a region renowned for its vibrant craft beer scene. From hop-forward IPAs to rich stouts and everything in .. 0 0 4 The Ultimate Guide to Finding an Apartment in St. Paul - Apartments in St. Paul by Bigos Management | June 7, 2018 Apartment hunting can be a daunting task – from location to size to cost and more, you have a lot to consider. .. Apartment hunting can be a daunting task – from location to size to cost and more, you have a lot to consider. There are hundreds of apartments for rent in neighborhoods throughout St. Paul, available in any size and for almost every budget. However, in order to find the right place for your needs, you should be equipped with the right information and apartment-hunting tips to succeed. Here at Apartments in St. Paul, we’ve been helping area residents find their dream home for a number of years. Between owning and operating our own apartment complexes to working with on-site leasing offices, to developing new complexes from the ground up, we know what it takes to find your dream home. So let’s get started – here’s the ultimate guide to finding an apartment in St. Paul! How to Find an Apartment Online The first and most convenient place to start your apartment hunt is on the internet. In order to find the best apartment through online portals, follow these key steps. Know What You Want While using the internet to find your new apartment is easy, more effective and much, much more convenient than on-foot, it isn’t magic. Before you even start your search, you should have a list of desires in your new place so you can find the ideal place for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a lot of space, low rent costs or short-term leases, your needs will be unique. Read Full Article Here’s a list of questions you should ask before you begin your apartment hunt: Do I want to live alone or do I need to find a roommate? How many bedrooms do I need – will a studio be sufficient? What is my budget? How long do I want to stay in this apartment – what are the lease terms? How many bathrooms do I need? Which neighborhoods do I enjoy and picture myself living in? What floor do I want to live on? Run a Credit Check The first thing you want to do is run a credit or background check on yourself. When applying for apartments, landlords will run these checks to see if there are any potential problems with your background, such as outstanding debts or criminal charges. While an apartment manager will run these checks before approving your tenancy, it’s still a good idea to run a check yourself so you can comb through any potential issues that may affect your qualification to live there. There are several credit reporting agencies you can go through, Equifax, TransUnion and Experian are the three major companies that offer one free credit report each year. Additionally, you can conduct a background check, although it may cost you. Start Hunting The general rule of thumb is to start your apartment hunt at least two months before your move date. This way, you can shop around for a little while to find the best apartment, rather than settling on something last minute. While the things you’ll need in an apartment will be specific to you and your needs, there are a few basic things you should look for as you start your hunt: Apartment price – try to find an apartment that’s within your budget. It’s unlikely that an apartment manager will lower your rent, although you could always attempt some negotiation. When you search within the parameters of your budget, you can avoid overpaying for something you can’t afford. Location – which neighborhood in St. Paul do you want to live in? Do you have your own transportation or are you going to need access to public transportation? While a certain apartment may be well-priced and in a great neighborhood, if you have to spend most of your time walking or calling taxis, it might not be such a great option. What’s more, you need to factor the cost of transportation into your budget for a realistic picture of how much an apartment really costs. Convenience – when searching for an apartment, the convenience factor can play a large role in the place you ultimately decide on. Look for a place that’s close to work, shopping, restaurants, recreation, entertainment and amenities such as laundry. Safety – there are many neighborhoods in St. Paul that are safe, and some that aren’t as safe. Ensure that you choose a place where you can feel safe, not only within the neighborhood itself, but the apartment as well. Proper locks on each door, private entrances, and security should all make you feel better about your new apartment. Do a Walk-Through Before deciding on an apartment, conduct a thorough walk through, both with the leasing agent and by yourself. It’s crucial to visit the property and get a feel for it before deciding on whether or not to live there. Come prepared and check for the following: Turn on lights and faucets, and flush toilets throughout the apartment to make sure they all function properly. Check for rodent or insect infestation, particularly in cupboards and storage spaces. Chew marks or droppings are a major red flag. Bring along a cell phone charger and plug it into the outlets to make sure they all work. Check smoke alarms and look for fire safety equipment, such as an extinguisher in the kitchen or hallway. Open and close and lock and unlock doors and windows. Turn on all included appliances to make sure they’re working. Examine floors and walls for any type of damage. Carpet, hardwood, linoleum, drywall, and tiles should all be inspected. Take pictures of any problem areas with a digital camera and show them to the landlord. Save the file so if there are any discrepancies with maintenance or problems getting your security deposit back when you move, you have evidence to prove you didn’t cause the damage. Gather Your Down Payment and Security Deposit Down payments and security deposits are a part of apartment living . A down payment could be required equal to the first and last month’s rent, along with a more customary security deposit of up to one month’s rent. So, if you’re signing a lease for an apartment with a $1,000/mo. rent, you’ll potentially need $3,000 to move in. Make sure to ask your leasing agent the total that will be required at move in to avoid surprises; every complex is different. While your down payment will be kept by the landlord, the down payment is usually returned at the end of the lease as long as the apartment is in the same condition as it was when you moved in. Read Over and Sign the Lease Your lease terms will dictate everything from price, time frame, utility payments and more. In general, you can expect to come across the following lease types when renting an apartment: Fixed-term leases – these are the most common types of leases, in which you stay in the apartment for a fixed period of time,...