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housing [2011/08/31 23:20] – tjoneshousing [2019/05/06 17:51] – michaelmedford
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 ===Rent=== ===Rent===
  
-There aren't really average prices for rents in Berkeley. The rents are highly dependent on location, room size, and how recently the place has been renovated. As a ROUGH estimate, expect to pay $800-$1100 for a studio, or as low as $400 for a room in a large house.+There aren't really average prices for rents in Berkeley. The rents are highly dependent on location, room size, and how recently the place has been renovated.
  
 ===Listings=== ===Listings===
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 The best place for apartment listings is [[http://www.craigslist.org/|craigslist]]. You can use this to find apartments and potential roommates. Apartments are generally listed as available immediately, or on the 1st of the next month. So, if you're looking for an August 1st move in, the best time to look is the last two weeks of July.  The best place for apartment listings is [[http://www.craigslist.org/|craigslist]]. You can use this to find apartments and potential roommates. Apartments are generally listed as available immediately, or on the 1st of the next month. So, if you're looking for an August 1st move in, the best time to look is the last two weeks of July. 
  
-The university also runs the [[https://calrentals.housing.berkeley.edu/|Cal Rentals]] office, which will let you access its listings for a small fee, but almost everything that shows up on that site shows up on Craigslist too. There is also the more full-service (and more expensive) [[http://www.bayrentals.com/|Bay Area Rentals]]. Most students opt to work entirely via Craigslist, though.+The university also runs the [[https://calrentals.housing.berkeley.edu/|Cal Rentals]] office, which will let you access its listings for free (it costs money to post, but you can look for free). There is also the more full-service (and more expensive) [[http://www.bayrentals.com/|Bay Area Rentals]]. Most students opt to work entirely via Craigslist, though.
  
 ===Leases=== ===Leases===
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 Most people don't realize that you are competing to get the best apartments. Before you even look at an apartment, put together a tenant resume. This is a list of references, bank accounts, etc that show the landlord that you can afford the apartment and are a good risk. You can download a blank resume  [[http://www.ehousing.com/cgi/pdf/RR2001.PDF|here.]] You shouldn't worry about giving a landlord your bank account numbers; without your PIN, they can only make deposits or check balances. **PKGW comments:** It is true that you're competing for the best apartments, but I've never found the tenant resume to be helpful. If you think that you might want to sign on a place at the viewing, it's useful to have your bank account info and such around, but pretty much everyone will want you to fill out an application of their design which asks for all the information that would go into such a resume. Most people don't realize that you are competing to get the best apartments. Before you even look at an apartment, put together a tenant resume. This is a list of references, bank accounts, etc that show the landlord that you can afford the apartment and are a good risk. You can download a blank resume  [[http://www.ehousing.com/cgi/pdf/RR2001.PDF|here.]] You shouldn't worry about giving a landlord your bank account numbers; without your PIN, they can only make deposits or check balances. **PKGW comments:** It is true that you're competing for the best apartments, but I've never found the tenant resume to be helpful. If you think that you might want to sign on a place at the viewing, it's useful to have your bank account info and such around, but pretty much everyone will want you to fill out an application of their design which asks for all the information that would go into such a resume.
  
-You will also want to run a credit report on yourself. If you leave it for the landlord to do, they will usually charge you $30, but if you do it yourself, it's free. I think equifax is a good company to use, but don't quote me on it. **PKGW comments:** In my experience, everyone wants to run the credit check themselves and is just going to charge you the $30.+You will also want to run a credit report on yourself to see what landlords will see when they run your credit report. CreditKarma provides free credit reports. Landlords will almost certainly charge you $30 to run this report on you as well.
  
 My strategy is, if you are remotely interested in an apartment, give the landlord your resume and credit report the first time you see the place. This is helpful in showing the landlord that you are organized. While the landlord checks your references, use that time to look at other apartments and decide whether you are still interested. When the landlord calls you to offer you the place, you can still say no. My strategy is, if you are remotely interested in an apartment, give the landlord your resume and credit report the first time you see the place. This is helpful in showing the landlord that you are organized. While the landlord checks your references, use that time to look at other apartments and decide whether you are still interested. When the landlord calls you to offer you the place, you can still say no.

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