Apartment renting information (Plano, Frisco: apartment complexes, leasing, insurance)

[gkp2007]

Hello all,

I am planning to move to Plano/Frisco for my job in next couple of months. This would be my first stay in United States. I have 2 kids (5yo & 2yo). Me & my wife feel apartments are better option for renting over stand-alone town-homes.

Before getting into any house hunt; I would like to understand some basic norms about renting apartments here.

1. The apartment website shows furnished photos of the homes. So; are these apartments 'typically' furnished or un-furnished? Furnished means ready with TV, sitting arrangements, beds, kitchenware etc.

2. What is typically included in the rent and what is excluded? e.g. Are utility bills like electricity, water etc included in the rent?

3. Who is responsible for servicing these apartments e.g. who arranges fixing broken taps, electrical points etc and who pays for fixing them?

We got an impression that the apartments are generally furnished and maintained by the 'care-takers' of the community; hence we are preferring them over town-homes. Let us know otherwise.

The answers to above questions may vary; but I want to understand the general trend.

[WorldKlas]

The photos on-line are staged "model" apartments in larger corporate managed apartment complexes. But the norm is unfurnished and the rent stated is for an unfurnished flat. Some communities will assist with furniture rentals through their alliances with rental companies; but there is an additional fee. Most people discover they do better by purchasing furniture.

Typcically -- in the larger rental complexes -- the tenant pays electricity and TV/Cable. Water is often included in the rental fee. Apartments vary in amenities such as pool, fitness room, reserved parking, covered parking, garage, gated communities, gated entry, pet policies, etc.

Most newer apartment complexes provide a washer & dryer in unit area. But ususally the tenant needs to provide his own washer and dryer or arrange to lease a set. Fridges, stoves, dishwashers and often microwaves are included in the unit at no addtional cost.

[gkp2007]

thanks @worldklas.

We wanted to avoid arranging the furniture on our own. So we earlier considered to avoid stand alone homes as they did not seem to be furnished. But seems that would normally be required in case of apartments too. I am now wondering whether there is any advantage to choose the apartments in serviced complexes over single homes or they both have almost similar overhead to move in.

Any information in this regard (renting/moving in apartments in complex vs single homes) would help; considering I have 2 kids with me.

[WorldKlas]

Non-citizens often have difficulty leasing property owned by private landlords. Most houses are privately owned. In addition, water is usually also paid by the tenant on stand alone houses and security deposits are higher.

I don't lease to anyone without a credit score, landlord references, USA banking history, and the ability to get a criminal background search conducted easily. I am the typical owner of single family rental properties and also townhouses/condos. Most of us use on-line credit verification providers who only can search USA-based data.

Non-citizens usually have an easier time leasing from large corporately managed apartments because they have the infrastructure to manage international applicants or abiility to manage the risk we private owners cannot handle. In addition, apartments generally require smaller security deposits. Apartments as also helpful, sometimes, in assisting tenants arrange for electric providers (we have many choices here) and TV/internet.

I suggest you focus on apartments for those reasons.

[pistisan]

Originally Posted by gkp2007

Hello all,

I am planning to move to Plano/Frisco for my job in next couple of months. This would be my first stay in United States. I have 2 kids (5yo & 2yo). Me & my wife feel apartments are better option for renting over stand-alone town-homes.

Before getting into any house hunt; I would like to understand some basic norms about renting apartments here.

1. The apartment website shows furnished photos of the homes. So; are these apartments 'typically' furnished or un-furnished? Furnished means ready with TV, sitting arrangements, beds, kitchenware etc.

2. What is typically included in the rent and what is excluded? e.g. Are utility bills like electricity, water etc included in the rent?

3. Who is responsible for servicing these apartments e.g. who arranges fixing broken taps, electrical points etc and who pays for fixing them?

We got an impression that the apartments are generally furnished and maintained by the 'care-takers' of the community; hence we are preferring them over town-homes. Let us know otherwise.

The answers to above questions may vary; but I want to understand the general trend.

1. Majority of apartments in Plano/Frisco are not furnished. You are seeing display homes, for showing purposes only.

2. Generally, you pay your own utility, water and gas bills, some apartment may even charge you for garbage disposal. You will need to sign up for providers.

3. Fixing is generally responsibility of the owner/landlord. You will also need to sign up for an insurance.