When should I negotiate rent for a new apartment?
In the past, when I’ve sought to do this, I’ve put together a great package that includes: -My resume with a letter from my boss that I am an employee in good standing (I’ve worked at the same firm for nearly 10 years now) -A copy of the last 4-5 pay stubs -A letter of reference from current landlord and/or proof of min. 6 months timely rent payment -A copy of my credit check -A copy of my savings account balance -Anything else relevant -A blank check, i.e. to make a deposit Then, I would make an appointment to see the apartment. If I like it, I will indicate my general interest, and show them that I’ve come prepared with every piece of documentation they could conceivably want to have. I then tell them I am interesting in placing a deposit today, but only if the rent were negotiated to $x. It’s worked for me.
The answer does depend on how you’re finding these apartments. Are you looking at owner-listed apartments through Craigslist and speaking only to the owners? Is a broker showing you things just out of your price range? Are you paying application or credit check fees? I negotiated with my landlord and the broker to get from $1200 to $1100 for my one bedroom. Actually, I wouldn’t say I negotiated–as I was looking at it, I just said “I love it and I’d take it, but my budget is $1100. I can’t swing $1200.” The landlord said, “Oh, okay, we can do that.” If he’d said no, I was prepared to walk. I really couldn’t have afforded $1200. (He also didn’t raise my rent when the lease was up, in part because I told him I hadn’t gotten a raise last year due to the economy. He’s awesome.) As soon as he said $1100 was fine, I handed over a deposit. I’d already paid a $45 credit check fee to the broker when I applied for another apartment he’d showed me. If you have to pay a separate fee (application o
