What should I look for when touring an apartment?

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Check the things that are expensive or impossible to fix after you sign: water pressure and hot water, signs of leaks or pests, cell signal, noise, natural light, working windows and locks, and the heating and cooling system. Look past fresh paint and staging, and test anything you can switch on. Bring your phone and give yourself at least 20 minutes. Rushing a tour is how people miss the problems they live with for a year. Run the shower and a sink at the same time. Flush the toilet. Watch how long hot water takes. Open and close every window and door, and check that the locks work. Look under sinks and at ceilings for water stains, warping or a musty smell. Check your phone signal in each room, and ask what internet providers serve the building. Count outlets in the rooms where you will work and sleep. Measure the bedroom and any tight doorways or stairwells if you own large furniture. Stand still for a minute and listen for traffic, neighbors and the building's mechanical noise. Take photos and a short video of each place you see. After three or four tours they blur together, and your notes will matter when you compare. If you can, walk the block at night or on a weekend too, since a street can feel very different at 10 p.m. than it did at 2 p.m.

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