The apartment hunt struggle is real these days, especially with ever-competitive rental markets. You have to know precisely what you’re looking for in an apartment, whether it be specifics like a walk-in closet or just the general location you want to live. You need to always think about things like the security deposit, the lease and the landlord.
It’s also a good tip when looking at the apartment you might rent to check everything from the bathroom to the bedroom. Make sure all the outlets and smoke detectors work and that the space is precisely what you want. Don’t forget to get good referrals because landlords often ask for them when you’re renting.
These are all important things to consider once you’re touring a new apartment but before you even get to the tour, there’s one thing you should also consider and that is what you should wear while apartment viewing.
Does it matter what you wear to an apartment tour?
While there are more important aspects to finding and securing a new apartment — such as your credit score, the security deposit and the application process — the truth is clothing does matter. Think of apartment viewing as a job interview and follow the same etiquette. Don’t arrive late — real estate agents and leasing managers are busy people who have many separate showings in a day, so don’t waste anyone’s time and dress for the future apartment you want.
What to wear to an apartment tour with a leasing agent
You might wonder if clothes really matter. Well, as they say, you should dress to impress. Most likely there are other people viewing the same apartment that you are with their leasing agent and you want to stick out. It also doesn’t hurt to impress the landlord of the apartment you want to rent in this competitive rental market
Remember, those first impressions are important and while it’s good to know what’s on the inside is what counts, it can’t hurt to make the outside match the inside. While clothes may vary depending on the situation, here are some tips on what to wear while apartment viewing.
1. Dress according to the weather
Since you can view an apartment in all types of weather, you should dress accordingly. It’s pretty basic knowledge — if it’s cold, wear a coat and good shoes. If it’s hot, wear something that you won’t sweat through. Consider these clothing tips for each season.
- Winter: If you’re going on an apartment tour in the winter then you should obviously dress for the weather to stay nice and cozy. Consider wearing one of your nicer coats and boots to the tour. Wearing weather-appropriate shoes will make it so you don’t have wet feet or drip water throughout the place you’re touring with real estate agents.
- Fall: Think about wearing something casual like a nice pair of jeans and a crisp shirt. Avoid clothing with tears, wrinkles and holes in it. Wear something that you’ll be comfortable but confident in.
- Spring: Think about wearing a nice spring dress or skirt or khakis. Business casual attire is always a good go-to when house hunting.
- Summer: During hot weather, it’s totally understandable to want to wear less clothing. However, when touring an apartment with your leasing agents, it’s best to avoid tight or short items. You want to wear something that you won’t sweat through but that still looks nice and presentable.
2. Wear business casual attire on an apartment tour to impress the property manager
You still might wonder exactly what you should wear when looking at apartments. Well, generally speaking, you can always rely on business casual attire. You really can’t go wrong with a nice pair of pants and a button-up shirt. You can dress up your street clothes by adding a few accessories here and there. Just be sure to take an iron to your clothes so they’re freshly pressed and this will make them look more professional.
3. Step it up a notch for your apartment viewing
You might have to choose different clothing depending on the apartment complex you’re touring. If you’re looking at a particular apartment that’s a bit more upscale, then business casual might not cut it and it might require formal attire. Check out the apartment community and see what the people are like and dress accordingly. Talk to the property managers and ask about what you can generally expect from the apartment complex.
If this is the case, then you can always go with a nicer pair of dress pants or dress or even consider a button-up and tie. When in doubt it’s always better to over-dress than to dress too casually.
4. Wear comfortable shoes
It’s easy for renters to forget the hard parts that go into apartment hunting, such as the amount of walking that goes into touring apartments and walking around the complexes. Touring apartment after apartment gets tiring easily and is hard on your feet. It’s a good idea to wear shoes that you can walk around in for the day and not get nasty blisters.
If you don’t want to walk around in heels for the day, then opt for some clean sneakers. There’s nothing worse than being uncomfortable, and you don’t want anything to distract you from the apartment you might rent.
5. Wear something that makes you feel confident and be yourself
While there are many tips that you can follow, there’s always room for exceptions. The bottom line is that you should always dress in something that makes you feel the most confident. Whether that’s jeans and a T-shirt or a suit, just be yourself. Nothing looks better on a person than confidence. Before you leave your bathroom or bedroom, take one last look at yourself and remind yourself that you’ve got this and that property is yours. If you have confidence, then you’ll have no problem finding the apartment of your dreams.
Sign the lease while looking your best
A landlord will consider things like your credit score and ability to pay rent on time over what you wear to an apartment tour, but it doesn’t hurt to dress up and look nice when touring apartments you’re considering renting. First impressions matter, whether we like it or not. So, put your best foot and fanciest shoe forward and you’re well on your way to signing a lease.
Source: rent.com