Ka Leo’s
Housing Guide What to look for ...........1 Amenities .....................3 Location .......................5 Pricing ..........................7 Transportation ..............8
First things first: inspecting the property JORDAN K. HENSLEY PR Staff There are many important things to check for when moving into your house or apartment. If you’re going to check out a property First things first, you found a listing for a two bedroom and one bath in Mānoa valley, got your roommate, and are going to check the property out to make a cohesive decision. When you arrive on the site, important things to check for, and quite possibly the most important, are safety and security. Check around for working smoke detectors; ideally there should be one in
each room and one in the kitchen. Also, each house or apartment should contain at least one fire extinguisher, so make sure to scope one out or ask your landlord to provide one. Make sure all locks are working, un-rusted, and are sturdy to avoid potential burglary problems. Next, as you make your way through the rooms, especially the bathroom and water-heater closet, check for leaky pipes. You might feel a bit silly getting on your hands and knees and looking in cupboards, but if there is a leak, you want it repaired before you sign any contracts.
Another thing you might want to check is the electrical outlets; you may want to bring a small electric appliance, such as a cell phone charger, and check outlets throughout the house. Test out all appliances within the house to make sure everything is in proper working order, namely the fridge, washer, and dryer. Mold is something worth checking for; feel the shower walls, look at the ceiling and in/around the fridge. Water temperature and pressure are also important things to keep an eye on, along
with proper working drainage. Look in cupboards, cabinets, closets for visible evidence of insects and rodents. It would suck to move in and find an infestation of cockroaches in your underwear drawer! Also, peer around and see if you can identify some of your potential neighbors; strike up a conversation, ask them how things are going in the neighborhood, and about potential hazards or issues that may exist. Making friends early is always a good thing. Check around for close bus stops just in case you need to jump on it for a
quick jet off to class when your ride isn’t there on time. Ample parking is also something to look for, so that when you eventually throw that housewarming party and invite all your best friends, they will all be able to drive without having to carpool. But if they are drinking, maybe carpooling is best. Be thorough and patient when inspecting your new apartment or house as well as the environment that surrounds it; it will be your home (hopefully) for the next year, so try to make your introduction into living there pleasant and stress-free.