5 Questions To Ask On An Apartment Tour In Bloomington

May 28, 2020

Touring an apartment is a crucial step in finding out that a particular community is for you. But while you’re inspecting the bathrooms and closet space on your Bloomington apartment tour, it’s also a good time to ask your tour guide some probing questions. These questions are good to help you determine the feel and tenant service the complex can give. After all, your apartment will be your home for a while, and it’s good to know just what you’re signing up for. To get you started, here’s a list of the 5 questions to ask on an apartment tour in Bloomington.

What Is The Apartment’s Pet Policy?

Pets in a pet friendly apartment

Many communities advertise themselves as pet-friendly apartments in Bloomington, but that can be a fairly vague term. Some buildings have restrictions on the type of dog breeds they allow or limit how many pets can live in the unit. Certain pet policies prohibit small animals, such as rats, guinea pigs, large birds, or lizards. And all pet policies typically have a pet fee for your animals -- and many may even have a cleaning fee when you move out.

Finding out about the pet policy is very important if you own a cat or dog, or you’re thinking of getting one in the near future. After all, you want your pet to be just as happy in your apartment as you are. However, it's also a handy question to ask on an apartment tour if you don’t have a pet. That way, you know what kinds of animals you might cross paths with on an everyday basis. We also recommend asking what pet-friendly amenities complex provides -- like dog parks or provided waste disposal stations.

How Will I Pay Rent And Utilities?

20 years ago, rent was usually paid by dropping off a check at the front office. These days, there could be many ways to make a rent payment. Does the community have a mobile app or can I use direct deposit? Can I pay by credit card and receive points for my rent payment? Some places may even let you pay through popular payment systems like Venmo or PayPal. Asking this question while on an apartment tour can be critical if you travel or need a cashless way to pay rent.

Learning how utilities work can also save you expensive mistakes during your lease. What utilities are included with rent? Are you able to roll utilities into my rent check? Are utilities, such as water and gas, set by communal use or are they determined by individual apartments? Can I choose the internet, phone, or cable providers, or am I limited to the same provider as everyone else in the community? These questions should be simple, but sometimes the answers are different than you'd expect.

What Amenities Can I Use?

Swimming pool in a JC Hart community

Your Bloomington apartment tour should also include a quick peek. During your Bloomington apartment tour you should also walk through the amenities and grounds. While a short overview of what’s available is helpful, you might like to ask more about residents' day-to-day usage of the communities’ amenities.

If you want to exercise in the early morning or late at night to accommodate your daily schedule, go ahead and ask about the fitness center’s hours -- and when it’s the busiest. Moms and Dads may like to know what the policy is for kids to use the fitness center or pool and hot tub. If you’d love an apartment that’s not just a space to lay your head down at night, but a community that enhances your lifestyle, it’s important to ask amenity questions during your apartment tour. What you learn may be the decision point between two apartment complexes in Bloomington.

How Do I Request Maintenance?

Bedroom door of an apartment

Before you conclude your apartment tour, make sure that you ask about the maintenance situation. Maintenance practices can vary between companies, from 24-hour onsite availability to outside maintenance that needs to be scheduled during normal business hours. Unforeseen problems do happen sometimes, but it’s how your community responds to your maintenance needs that can deeply influence how you feel about your apartment.

When you’re asking about maintenance, don’t be afraid to be thorough. Does the community have emergency on-site maintenance, or can maintenance only work on repairs during operating business hours? Who do I talk to when I have a critical repair issue? Is there an online form to complete a maintenance request? And how will I be contacted when they’ve completed the repair? It’s also a good idea to ask what work isn’t performed by maintenance personnel, such as washer/dryer installation or new shelving.

What Is The Parking Situation?

Parking lot at a JC Hart community

When you ask questions on your apartment tour in Bloomington, remember to ask what how parking is handled. Do I have an assigned parking spot, or is parking open to whoever gets there first? Do I need a parking sticker or hang-tag for my vehicle, and what if my family has multiple cars? Does my lease include an individual garage or carport? And make sure to inquire about the towing policy. You’d hate to to find your ideal apartment, but realize that you have to go around the block for half an hour to snag a curbside space.

City Flats on Tenth Will Answer All Your Questions On Your Apartment Tour In Bloomington

Schedule your tour with City Flats on Tenth today, and we’ll answer all your questions while showing you one of our units. Simply call us at 812-561-1974 or click the “schedule a tour” button. And don’t forget to ask your partner or roommates to , as they might ask some questions, too! Can’t visit the property? We offer virtual tours!