apartment hunting

Searching for a home? Here are some great tactics for apartment hunting on Craigslist from Business Insider.

Believe it or not, I've found all of my apartments on Craigslist.

And I've never paid a broker's fee once.

I've always resented the notion of a one-month (or more) broker's fee, since in my experience, the real estate brokers showing my apartment were just making appointments.

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I was the one telling them about the closest grocery store, amenities in the building, and all the quirks of the apartment.

There are apartments on the site if you know how to wade through the crap. It just takes research, common sense, and knowing exactly what you want.

Here's what I've done to find fee-free apartments on Craigslist in Hoboken, NJ; Jersey City, NJ; the Upper West Side, NYC, and the Upper East Side, NYC:

Research, research, research! Figure out which area or areas you want to live in and really explore them. Take trips to the neighborhood during the day and at night. Assess which section is the expensive part of town, where the main street is, where the closest transportation is, and where the residential section is. Talk to people who live there as well as people who don't. Get as much information as possible from as many different people as possible.

Don't trust the pictures. Are all the shots narrow? Does the apartment look like it has many hallways but no rooms? It's probably a shoe box. Lots of pictures of the outside or only one room means that the broker/owner doesn't want you to see what's inside. Request more pictures before you take the time to see the apartment.

Read on for more.

I'm in the process of moving and while relocating can be a pain in the rear on its own, if you add a dog in to the mix then it's nearly impossible. Thankfully, one of our dutiful IT guys suggested I check out PadMapper to make things easier. Like HousingMaps before it, PadMapper takes Craigslist listings, along with Apartment.com and others to bring you a more comprehensive list than when searching with Craigslist alone. Plus, you can set parameters like price, location, photos, bedrooms, keywords, and more.

I probably shouldn't even be telling you about this until I find my place — have you seen the crowds that show up to SF open houses!?

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Your little furry friends may just be the clincher if you're trying to sell your place of residence. Contrary to popular opinion, pets can help make a place seem more inviting and will leave a lasting impression in the minds of potential buyers, according to The New York Times. But not all animals will pass muster — pets that have winning personalities will be more appealing than unfriendly or ill-behaved ones.

Tamasin Ramsay, a prospective buyer, fell in love with Elbow the friendly black Affenpinscher that greeted interested apartment hunters at a two-bedroom co-op in New York. Tamasin, who ended up purchasing the apartment, says the dog's "presence created a sense of love and family, a sense of belonging. The apartment was beautiful, but what got my attention was the very cute dog that was always bounding around."

So if you're doggone tired of trying to sell your apartment, your four-legged pal may be the answer to all your frustrations. I'm sure your broker's charms can't match up to Fluffy's!

Just saying the words "apartment hunting" may send shivers down your back. It can be a frustrating roller coaster of emotions, with elation often followed by letdown as you realize Craigslist photos can be misleading, landlords and realtors can be less than truthful, and good places are often snagged fast. And you have to choose your priorities amongst numerous factors including square footage, price, location, and the building's age. Then there's the stress of filling out applications and obtaining credit reports. The entire process can be overwhelming and headache-inducing.

I've found that staying organized and having copies on hand of all my application information, my credit report, etc., helps immensely, but all the preparation in the world can't shield you from unexpected snags in your plans. I want to know, how do you handle the stress of apartment hunting? Any good tips you can share with fellow renters?

Source: Flickr User Allan Ferguson

I have a friend who is desperately trying to find a third roommate in order to stay in her dream apartment once the lease is up. She put up a Craigslist ad and has had a few responses. But finding a roommate on Craigslist isn't the same as using the online service to find a midcentury sofa, Taylor Swift concert tickets, or even an apartment.  You are inviting a complete stranger to live in your home, so there are some precautions to take. For five tips I recently heard from someone who's had lots of experience living with, and kicking to the curb, roomies found via Craigslist, read more

Moving is not easy. First, I had to search for a decent kitchen. Then I had to prioritize my needs — yes I must have a dishwasher and an island. Next I had to pack the entire kitchen and my extensive recipe collection.

Finally, I've officially moved in, start to unpack, and realize that my new kitchen only has one drawer. One drawer. With all my serving ware, utensils, bar tools, random gadgets (egg poacher, immersion blender, etc.), and food storage (foil, parchment paper, saran wrap, etc.), I definitely need more than one drawer. What should I do? Put a dresser in the kitchen?

Get a food storage shelving unit? Help readers! I would love to hear your advice.

I'm on the hunt for a new apartment here in San Francisco. One of the things I've taken horribly for granted is my dishwasher. You'd be surprised how many places do not have one. Some even have "new, remodeled" kitchens, but no dishwasher! As you can imagine, I do a lot of cooking and plenty of entertaining, yet places with dishwashers are generally more expensive.

This is where I need your help readers: Do you have a dishwasher? Do you not have one? Is it really difficult always having to wash dishes? Or do you think it's worth it to pay a little extra and get a dishwasher? Please share your advice below!