Changing homes can be pretty stressful. You’ve got to take care of a lot of details, not the least should include looking for the right rental apartment. Here are easy steps you can follow to help you stay sane throughout the process:

Read About the Market

The Business Times says that in Singapore, renting is a more cost-effective option than buying. That’s because of home prices falling after the loan curbs were implemented. By knowing what’s happening, and updating yourself on what’s current in the real estate industry, you can make better decisions with your money. So if it’s not the best time to buy a property, then you can simply rent a property and bide your time until the market makes a turn for the better or when you’ve finally saved enough for the home you want.

Know Your Budget

HGTV suggests finding out how much your budget is before you start looking. Knowing how much you can actually afford to pay is going to influence your renting decisions in a major way. This way, you won’t have to waste time, effort and resources looking into properties that would later turn out to be well out of your price range anyway.

Put Together a Must-Have List

You’ve probably got property features you can’t live without. For instance, if you’re an artist, you might want bigger windows to let in more of the natural light. Or maybe an extra bedroom or two for when friends and family come over. Starting a family? Go for the two to three bedroom apartment instead of the studio. This will help you decide which properties really provide you with what you need.

Use the Right Tools to Search

With so many online property-listing sites like Property Guru, finding the right apartment for rent is easy. You can browse through as many choices as you need until you generate a list of all the properties that you think have the best potential to be your next home.

Know Your Rights as a Tenant

The best way you can protect your rights is to be familiar with every single one of them in the first place. When you know just what you’re entitled to, whether these are services or coverage, it’s easy to determine if your landlord is abiding by the rules of the contract or if you’ve already got grounds to file a complaint or sue.

Noisy Roommates or Neighbors

So you’ve found the apartment that’s perfect for you in every way, except for one teeny, tiny detail: you’ve got the worst sort of roommates or neighbors. From early morning revelries that disturb your sleep, to running in the halls and causing unacceptable amounts of noise, to roommates borrowing your shoes and eating all your food in the fridge without permission, roommates and neighbors can often push you to call it quits. Yes, there are a lot of things in life that you could pretty much get used to, including living and surviving the worst sort of roommates or neighbors that chance can conjure up. But why would you? Life’s too short to waste on such things. So before you move and spend that lease period in misery, check out the neighbors you’ll be sharing that space or building with, and choose your roommates wisely – or decide to live solo – before you give it a go.

Don’t Pay Double for Pets

Some landlords ask for an added deposit or rental fee for pets. However, know that you shouldn’t pay for both. It’s either you shell out money for the deposit or rent. Don’t forget to negotiate with your landlord regarding costs.

Tell Yourself You’re Buying a Home

If you’re going to spend the next few years in that rental property, then it makes sense to look for one with the mind-set that you’re buying it. You need to feel comfortable and right at home in that space, so it’s important to rent an apartment that’s right for you in terms of its location, size, and price, among other things.

Know How to Negotiate

Landlords can raise their rents any time. What you can do, though, to avoid a rent increase is to negotiate. You could go for a longer lease or prepay the rental fee months in advance. That’s going to go a long way to making a convincing case for your landlord not to raise the rent.

Deep Clean the Apartment

Before you move out, make sure to deep clean the apartment. Clear the grime, dirt and dust from every corner, floor tile or window. That gives you a solid shot at getting your deposit back.

Renting an apartment doesn’t have to send your blood pressure spiking. With these tips, finding a place you can rent and move into should be easy enough to do.