For first-time (or even second- and third-time) apartment hunters, whether they’re out-of-town students, freshmen moving out of the residence halls or just people in need of a residence switch, the hardest part about searching for an apartment is figuring out where to begin.

1) Define what you want from a residence

Robert Baker, director of education for Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., said that before searching for an apartment, renters have to establish their basic needs and wants.

“You have to ask yourself—do I want a roommate, is the location near a bus route, is it close to campus, how much do I want to pay for utilities—before searching for a location,” he said.

According to the Kansas Tenant Handbook, renters should ask themselves four basic questions before searching for an apartment: where is it; does it match who I am; how much does it cost; and how long do I want to live there?

John Gibbons, Springfield, Mo., graduate student, said that for him the most important factor when searching for an apartment was proximity to campus.

“I didn’t want to have to drive,” he said. “I wanted to be able to walk to campus.”

Kate Joseph, Chaska, Minn., sophomore, said quality was her top priority when searching for an apartment.

“I live with all girls, so we wanted it to be a nice place, too,” she said.

Once tenants know what they want from an apartment, they can start looking at available resources.

2) Narrow Your Search

Classifieds: The classifieds sections of newspapers are easy places to begin the search for available apartments.

Jamie Nishimura, Mililani, Hawaii senior, said she found her current apartment at Sunrise Terrace using the classifieds.

“It gave me more of an idea of what kinds of apartments were available, and, like everything else in life, I wanted to get the best deal,” she said.

Google it: Another easy option is an Internet search.

Some Web sites, such as www.bestapartmentsinlawrence.com, www.aparments.lawrence.com and www.hcci-ks.org, allow users to enter specific criteria, such as price range and number of bedrooms. Then the site generates a list of apartments that match the criteria.

Colleen Boerner, Overland Park graduate student, said searching on the Internet was a good way to find apartments, but she recommended being skeptical.

“They can distort the way the apartment looks in virtual tours,” she said.

Word of mouth: Kate Baker, Wichita freshman, said she found her current apartment at Meadowbrook Apartments by talking to friends.

“If you know anyone that goes to school here that you can ask, that’s a good option,” she said.

Robert Baker, from Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. said that to be careful when getting apartment advice from friends, though.

“It’s all a matter of taste and preference,” he said. “One person’s feelings may be different from what another person is looking for.”

3) Get a Feel for Lawrence apartments

If a person is sick of shuffling papers or sifting through Web sites, another option is to take a driving tour of Lawrence. Driving around will help give a feel for different areas and decide which parts of town a renter likes, Robert Baker said.

“This is especially helpful if you’re from out of town,” he said.

4) Make an Appointment

The last step when searching for an apartment should be to schedule an appointment to walk through the apartment you want to lease.

Kate Baker said looking at the apartment firsthand is important, but it might not provide as much insight as desired.

“Sometimes the apartment you get is a lot different than the one you look at,” she said.

Nishimura said nobody should sign a lease without walking through the apartment first.

“It’s a must-do,” she said.

She recommended looking at a variety of apartments before making a commitment.

“Don’t just jump and lease the first apartment that you find,” she said. “The people who are trying to get you are like used car salesman. They will do anything to get you to rent their apartment.”

Gibbons also suggested comparing several apartments.

“Where I live, even if you move a block further, you could pay $100 more in rent,” he said.

— — Edited by Susan Melgren