What You Can Be Doing Now to Make Your Apartment Hunt Easier (Even If You're Not Ready Yet)
Not quite time to start your apartment search? No problem. There’s actually a lot you can do ahead of time to set yourself up for success when the time comes to apply for a new place. Apartment hunting (and applying) gets a lot easier—and less stressful—if you’re prepared.
Here are a few things you can be working on now:
1. Check Your Credit
Before you even think about applying, make sure your credit is in good shape. Even an old utility bill from a past apartment can sneak up and cause major problems when you apply somewhere new.
✔️ Do you have any unpaid bills from a previous apartment?
A three-year-old collection from a utility company can still cause a huge roadblock.
✔️ Student loans restarted but you’ve been ignoring them?
Missed payments can lower your credit score and make it harder to qualify, especially for apartments that are strict on credit.
✔️ Keep making payments on time for any credit cards or loans.
Building consistent payment history now helps your future self big time.
2. Check Your Income
Income plays a major role in qualifying for apartments, and there are steps you can take now to make sure you're in good shape.
✔️ Getting paid in cash or through Venmo?
Start depositing that money into a bank account. Apartment communities want to see proof of income, and screenshots of payment apps won’t cut it.
✔️ Understand what you qualify for.
Most apartments require your monthly income to be at least 3x the market rent. Get familiar with what that looks like so your expectations are realistic when it's time to search.
3. Know Your Options
There are ways to boost your application if your income or credit alone isn't enough.
✔️ Co-signers or Guarantors:
They typically need to make 5x the market rent on their own. Their income can't be combined with yours—they have to qualify by themselves.
✔️ Co-applicants:
This is different from a guarantor. Co-applicants are added to the lease and their income combines with yours to meet that 3x requirement.
4. Don’t Tour Apartments Yet
I know it’s tempting—but touring too early can actually waste your time and cost you money.
❌ Pricing & availability change constantly.
What’s available today may be gone by the time you’re ready to apply.
❌ You could miss out on specials.
Properties often offer their best deals for immediate or near-immediate move-ins. Touring too early means you’ll miss those savings.
5. Explore Nashville
While it’s too soon to tour apartments, it’s the perfect time to explore the city and figure out where you want to live.
✔️ Visit different neighborhoods.
Nashville is made up of tons of unique areas, each with its own vibe.
✔️ Think about your commute.
Where you work can help narrow down your search—no one wants to spend an hour in traffic every day.
6. Keep Your Record Clean
It sounds obvious, but it matters:
✔️ Avoid filing for bankruptcy.
✔️ Stay out of legal trouble.
Felonies, misdemeanors, or major financial hits can follow you and make apartment approvals much harder.
Bottom line: Even if your move is a few months away, you can be setting yourself up for a smoother, less stressful apartment search now. And if you want someone to help guide you through the process when the time comes (without all the stress), that’s literally what we do every day.
Want help when it’s time to start your search? We help people find the best Nashville apartments—stress-free and 100% free to you.
Reach out whenever you're ready.
