Apartment Tour Checklist: What to Check Before You Decide
Published by Apartments Texas · Updated
A room-by-room checklist for apartment tours in Texas, from water pressure and outlets to fees you should leave with in writing.
Use the questions below for the exact unit and dates you are considering, and record any point management has not confirmed.
What should you confirm before you arrive?
Confirm whether you will see the exact unit you would rent or only a model. If only a model is available, ask to also walk an occupied-floor hallway and the parking area so you can judge everyday condition.
Bring a phone charger, a tape measure, and a written list of your must-haves and deal-breakers, such as in-unit laundry or a specific floor. Reading the Texas Attorney General's renter guidance before you tour gives you the basics of your rights.
Which in-unit tests should you run?
Run every tap and note the pressure and how long hot water takes. Flush the toilet, open and close each window, and test the locks. Plug your charger into an outlet in each room.
Turn the air conditioning and heat on and listen. Look under sinks for signs of leaks, open cabinets, and note the condition of appliances. Write down anything you would want fixed before move-in.
What should you check outside the unit?
Walk the hallways, stairwells, laundry room, mail area, and parking lot, not just the unit. Record lighting, cleanliness and odors as observations from this visit, not proof of maintenance at every other time.
If you are serious about a unit, return once in the evening and walk the route from parking to door. Ask yourself whether you would feel comfortable making that walk every night.
What should you leave with in writing?
Ask for a complete fee sheet: application fee, deposit, monthly rent, and every recurring charge such as pest control, trash, or amenity fees. Compare communities on the written total, not the advertised rent.
If the leasing agent promises a repair, upgrade, or concession, ask for it in the lease or a signed addendum. Keep the written agreement with your lease records.