Choosing and Evaluating an Apartment/House

The Iowa City and Coralville area have a wide selection of rental properties. When viewing rental units, it is important to consider not only the property but also your individual needs for a living space.

The following considerations and questions may help you evaluate and compare rental properties:

• Create a budget – including rent, utilities, parking, transportation, etc.
• Ask to tour the exact unit you are interested in renting. The “model” unit may not be an accurate representation of every unit’s condition or layout.
• Talk to the current tenants about what it is like to live in the building and work with the property manager
• Visit the property during different times of day to assess the lighting and noise
• Research the property manager on review sites like Google and search their legal history via iowacourts.gov
• Review the rental permit to view past maintenance issues. Rental permits for Iowa City are available on the Housing Inspector’s website
• If the property manager agrees to make updates or repairs to the property before you move in, add it to the lease!