How far in advance do you recommend I search for a rental home? (Denver: apartment)

[FreeAsABirdNow]

Hello!
We are moving to Denver in the beginning of May. I'd like to get plane tickets soon, and was wondering if anyone here has info regarding the best time to look for a rental home. Would I be better off showing up during the last week of March? First week of April? Another time?

In case it matters, I'm looking for a 3-4 bed house in Lakewood, Green Mountain or Golden. We also have a dog.


Thanks so much!

[odie91]

If you are renting private, hard to say. But if you are renting from leasing agent, I think tenants have to give 30 days notice if they move out. So searching 29 days before moving date would probably give you best dibs. I went apartment hunting about 20 days before my move in date, and had no trouble finding vacancies.

Originally Posted by FreeAsABirdNow

Hello!
We are moving to Denver in the beginning of May. I'd like to get plane tickets soon, and was wondering if anyone here has info regarding the best time to look for a rental home. Would I be better off showing up during the last week of March? First week of April? Another time?

In case it matters, I'm looking for a 3-4 bed house in Lakewood, Green Mountain or Golden. We also have a dog.


Thanks so much!

[Tigerlily64]

I am looking online currently for rentals as my company is relocating us at the end of Feb/early March. The vast majority of the properties I am seeing advertised are available immediately, a few within the next 2-3 weeks and only the odd one or two advertised as being available more than 3-4 weeks time. If it is an apartment/townhome with one of the big property management companies like Equity then I have found that their own websites (as opposed to places like padmapper.com) often show availability of units further into the future (1-2 months).

[ca-ut-??]

it didn't take us long at all... really just days. But this is in Castle Rock and we are paying above average I would say (but this is a 6 months lease)

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by ca-ut-??

is in Castle Rock and we are paying above average

So, Annie, time to change to "ca-ut-co".

[vegaspilgrim]

Typically people will give a 30 day notice before their lease is up if they're going to move out. So you're only wasting your time if you show up earlier than 3-4 weeks before your move in date. This is an extremely tight rental market, and vacancies in any halfway desirable area are filled very fast. As soon as you find something you like grab it immediately and put a deposit down, don't hesitate or it will be gone. If you're somewhat flexible and can spend a few days in a hotel while you look, I'd actually recommend you just show up and find a place to live with immediate move in available. Then there's no second guessing what the place will really look like, you don't have to see the current tenants living there with their smelly food and kids and pets running around, etc.

[ca-ut-??]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

So, Annie, time to change to "ca-ut-co".

you never told me how lol do i have to create a brand new account ?

[FreeAsABirdNow]

Thank you for all the feedback!
I'm leaning toward the first week of April for now. Worst case scenario, we can always move and then find a place once we get there. Not ideal, but no big issue, either.