If you are a first-time renter just starting out in the world, you may have a lower budget than those who already have stable careers. However, no matter where you are in life, I would suggest you carefully budget for affordable rent, including bills for some utilities and other expenses that might come with a new place. 

Think about your specific needs and desires. Things like location, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, whether you need a designated parking spot or not, and whether pets are allowed. First, focus on the necessary characteristics. Then move on to your desires, which may include amenities like a gym, pool, or concierge service.

I would also suggest taking the time to check the surrounding area for access to businesses, public transportation, and your job. 

Your busy lifestyle may not give you much time to visit multiple apartment communities, take tours, and investigate all the details. But with my experience in rental properties and knowledge of the Chicago neighborhoods and communities, you will only spend time looking at options worth considering and signing a lease agreement with. The landlord will often cover my commission, so you don’t have to worry about that expense. The services I will provide you with the research and application process may be invaluable.

After you have done your research, finalized your budget, work with me to find the best properties, and narrow down your options. The time has come to proceed with the application for lease. Although every landlord or property management company may have a different application and decision process, they are generally the same regarding the type of information you would need to provide and how they determine to rent to.

Most likely, there will be an application fee for every property. Good credit and a stable source of income are both important for applications to get accepted and pass a background check. Background checks usually include: a national criminal background check, credit report, eviction history, and employment history. Maximize your chance of acceptance by boosting your credit score and minimizing the debt to income ratio before starting the apartment searching process. Some properties simply refused to rent to anyone with a score below a certain level. If necessary, arrange to have a cosigner.  

I will also go over the application and lease agreement with you in detail. And some of the details we will discuss will be:

• Security deposit, lease amount, and potential increases
• Rules and Regulations 
• Renewal or termination of the lease agreement
• Maintenance, upkeep, and repairs. Who is responsible for what. 
• Any additional small-print fees or rules

The final steps include signing the lease agreement and walking through the specific property you intend to rent. At final walkthrough look for any damages that are not disclosed in the agreement already, so you do not end up getting charged for it with your security deposit.

After that is done, the time has come for you to move into your brand-new Chicago Suburbs apartment or a house. Now all you have to do is schedule your move-in date and likely get approval from the association (if there is one) and write a “move-in” refundable check for a specific amount. Last but not least, transfer all the utilities to your name. Welcome, Home!