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I just got a job in Chicago and need to find an apartment. This would work out best if I found it before I started the actual job since I will be working 3rd shift and I can't afford a hotel everynight/I cannot imagine working 3rd and staying in a hostel.
How do I approach find an apartment with employement that I have not actually started? Is my new hire letter enough? What else should I keep in mind? Thanks!
I just got a job in Chicago and need to find an apartment.
Start with a share situation.
Get through the winter, make some friends, see how things settle with the new job...
THEN come spring look in peace and at your own pace and when more choices will be available.
Maybe even with one of those new friends (or co-worker).
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How do I approach find (a place) with employment that I have not actually started?
Is my new hire letter enough? What else should I keep in mind?
Finding someone you'll get along with is harder.
If you do (and have the deposit money) you should be fine.
Each time I've moved it's been for a new job. Have your offer letter with salary, your prior W2s or pay stubs, and recommendations from previous landlords (if you've got that) in hand, and find a realtor who handles rentals to show you around. If you can, ask your employer's HR department for some idea of what take-home will be after health care, taxes (does Chicago have a city wage tax?), FICA, etc. so you have a better idea of what the absolute max you can afford is.
DO NOT commit to a rental sight unseen. Best you find a short-term motel close to where you'll be working and then get to know your way around the new area before deciding on where would best suit you. Good luck in the new job and with your move!
get to know your way around the new area before deciding on where would best suit you
I cannot possibly stress this advice more. Getting a short term rental will not only give a chance to check out the areas, but also to talk with coworkers and locals about which areas to avoid.
The acceptance letter should be enough, unless they have a minimum time on the job as a requirement. When I moved, I did it without a job. I did a temporary stay through airbnb.com when I first arrived. Got offered a job after 4 days, then I looked for a roommate situation. My roommate situation was fine with my acceptance letter. 3 months later, I found my own apartment and my landlord didn't have a minimum on-the-job requirement.
I have rented numerous times to new hires who rented sight-unseen. Same with students. With new hires, I just require a copy of the offer letter. I do a credit check, and landlord references. Then I google the company and ask for the HR dept. I never call the supervisor the tenant gives me, just in case it's fake.
If you find an ad on Craigslist, and you want to rent sight-unseen, see if you can check out reviews online. I would suggest you only rent from an apt bldg/complex. Then you can google the phone number in the ad, make sure it is the office number listed online. You can use the street view to make sure it's a real apt bldg.
Anyway, if you decide to do the Extended Stay Hotel thing first, that would be safer, as you could see the actual unit before renting.
At any rate, your offer letter, along with other references and credit check, should be enough to rent a place.
When I moved to a new state my proof of income was my offer letter. I had the deposit and first month's rent upfront and good credit, so I had no issues renting my own place. I made well over 3 times the rent as it was
New hire letter, local bank account with plenty of money in it, and hopefully good credit. Line up a co-signor just in case that might be a condition for the first term.
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