5 Questions To Ask On An Apartment Tour In Indianapolis

May 28, 2020

Swimming pool at Indianapolis apartment.

Walking through apartment tours is a necessary step in deciding if that a particular community is for you. But while you’re looking over the apartment floor plan and closet space on your Indianapolis apartment tour, it’s also a great time to ask your guide some deeper questions. These questions can help you get a glimpse of the atmosphere and tenant service the community can offer. After all, your apartment will be your home for some time, and it’s good to understand just what you’re signing up for. To start off, these are the five questions to ask on an apartment tour in Indianapolis.

What’s The Community’s Pet Policy?

Pets in a pet friendly apartment

Many communities promote themselves as pet-friendly apartments in Indianapolis, but that term means different things to different communities. Some apartments have dog breed restrictions or limit how many pets can be in the apartment. Some pet policies prohibit small animals, like rats, hamsters, large birds, or reptiles. And all pet policies usually have a pet fee for your furry loved ones -- and some may even charge a cleaning fee upon move out.

Asking about the pet policy is a must if you live with a cat or dog, or you’re considering adopting one very soon. After all, your pet needs to be just as at home in the apartment as you are. But it's also a good question to ask on an apartment tour if you don’t have a pet. That way, you know what critters you might cross paths with on a consistent basis. You may also want to ask what pet-friendly amenities complex has -- like dog parks or convenient waste disposal bags.

How Will I Pay Rent And Utilities?

In the old days, rent was always paid by dropping off a check at the office. Today, there could be many ways to pay rent. Does the complex have a mobile app or can they link direct deposit through my bank? Can I pay by credit card and acquire reward points for my rent payment? Some places might let you pay through third-party payment systems like PayPal or Venmo. Asking how you pay rent on an apartment tour can be key for residents who are frequently out of town or require an easier way to pay rent.

Understanding how the complex handles utilities can also save you headaches in the future. What utilities come with rent? Can you roll utilities into my rent check? Are utilities, like gas and water, based on communal use or are they determined by individual apartments? Can I pick the internet, phone, or cable providers, or am I limited to the same company as the other residents? These questions should be simple, but sometimes the answers are different than you'd expect.

What Amenities Will I Have Access To?

Swimming pool in a JC Hart community

Your Indianapolis apartment tour should also include a quick tour. During your Indianapolis apartment tour you should also walk through the amenities and grounds. While a broad understanding of what a community offers is nice, you may wish to ask more about the details of the apartment community’s amenities.

If you want to work out in the morning or at night because of your personal schedule, make sure you ask about the workout center’s hours -- and when it’s usually busy. Moms and Dads may wish to understand what the policy is for children to use the basketball court or pool and hot tub. If you want an apartment that’s not just a space to lay your head down at night, but a community you can truly enjoy, it’s important to get your amenities questions answered while on your apartment tour. The answers may be the decision point between two apartment complexes in Indianapolis.

How Do You Handle Maintenance Requests?

Bedroom door of an apartment

Before you’re done with your apartment tour, be sure that you ask about how maintenance is handled. Maintenance practices can vary a lot, from 24-hour onsite availability to contract repair that has to be reserved within operating business hours. Unforeseen problems do crop up from time-to-time, but it’s how maintenance is able to respond that can deeply influence how you feel about your apartment.

When you’re asking about maintenance, go ahead and be thorough. Does the community have emergency on-site maintenance, or can maintenance only work on repairs during normal business hours? Who do I call about an emergency? Can I go online to complete request maintenance? And how will I know when they are done? You might even want to ask what services wouldn’t be performed by maintenance personnel, such as washer/dryer installation or new shelving.

What’s Parking Like?

Parking lot at a JC Hart community

When you ask questions on your apartment tour in Indianapolis, it’s good to ask what where you park your car. Am I assigned a place to park, or is it first come first serve? Do I need a parking sticker or hang-tag for my car, and what happens if my family has two or more cars? Does the community have individual garages or carports? And make sure to ask about the towing procedure. You’d hate to discover your dream apartment, but learn that you need to stalk the block for half an hour to find a curbside parking spot.

The Edge Will Answer All Your Questions On Your Apartment Tour In Indianapolis

Schedule your community tour with The Edge today, and we’ll answer each of your questions while giving you a tour of one of our apartments. Simply call us at 463-345-4399 or hit the “schedule a tour” button. And don’t forget to bring your family or roommates, as they may ask some questions, too! Can’t make it to the property? We offer virtual tours!