Apartment Insiders - Expert Apartment Locators in Nashville

Well…that varies significantly between apartments. That’s why it's good to have our apartment locators on your side. We know the qualifying credit scores for most apartments and can help you quickly find the ones that will work for you!

The majority of landlords, lenders and companies view credit scores in these ranges: Below 550 – Bad 550 to 649 – Poor 650 to 699 – Fair 700 to 749 – Good 750 & Above – Excellent

Equifax, TransUnion and Experian are the 3 companies that currently calculate credit scores in the US. They use factors like: (1) How much credit is available to you (2) How long you have had that credit (3) How much of the total credit available to you are you using? (meaning how much you owe vs. your total credit line) (4) Your payment history including late payments and non-payments (5) Any collections history (if creditors have had to send your balance to a collections agency to try to get repayment)

Your ‘credit score’, also referred to as your ‘FICO score’ is an objective way for a company to tell if you are likely to pay for the goods or services that they are providing you on credit. It is a number between 300 and 850. The lower your score the less likely you are deemed to pay for the goods or services they are providing. The higher, the more likely.

Credit is an important part of renting. If your credit isn’t so hot or you don’t have any credit it can diminish your chances of getting the apartment you want. For the total newbies, credit is when a company will give your goods or services before you have paid for them. Some examples include: credit cards, credit lines, rental leases, mortgages, and car payments. But, when people, or more importantly apartments, refer to your ‘credit’, they are typically referring to your credit score.

When it comes to apartments and rentals, both co-signers and guarantors can help you qualify – keeping in mind that they have a few key differences. A guarantor is an individual who takes on the financial responsibility of the apartment should the tenant default or fail to pay rent. Guarantors are not considered tenants and therefore not approved to live in the unit. A cosigner is considered a tenant and can live in the apartment they cosign for. This also means the cosigner is immediately responsible for paying the rent and has the same liability for the unit that the primary renter has.

We only work with professionally managed apartment communities.

Nope! The difference is that Apartment Insiders spend a lot more time training to learn the apartment market than regular apartment locators do. While Apartment Insiders have real estate licenses and technically are apartment locators, the specialized training program Apartment Insiders go through is rigorous, and they meet multiple times a week to discuss changes happenings with apartments in the market. That’s what sets them apart. They also benefit from the longstanding relationships the company has within the local apartment market. No other company has these same connections or database.

We’ve partnered with Cort Furniture to help furnish apartments through furniture rentals instead of having to purchase everything! As for short term leases, the minimum lease term we work with is 6 months, but pricing is usually MUCH higher for short term leases; sometimes double the price. We always tell people that if they’re planning on moving here for at least a year, it’s worth it to just do a year lease and save the money!

We love telling people who move from big cities like New York or LA about deposits here in Nashville. They usually range anywhere from $0-400. Sometimes higher if there are credit issues, but no apartment requires first and last month's rent, which is awesome. Some apartments will even give you a month of free rent! You will also pay an application fee of $0-100 and an admin fee of $0-300. We’re pretty good at finding killer deals though, so you shouldn’t expect to pay more than $500 for move-in costs with good credit. If you have a pet, it’ll be a bit more.

We work with apartment communities in Nashville and certain surrounding areas. The City of Nashville, Tennessee has a consolidated city-county form of government. That means that the entire county Nashville is located in, Davidson County, is all considered Nashville as well. We work with apartments in Nashville as well some of the outlying cities such as Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, and Mount Juliet. Some of the suburbs or neighborhoods we work with in Nashville include East Nashville, Bellevue, SoBro, Wedgewood Houston, 12 South, 8th Avenue South, Green Hills, Germantown, Downtown, the Gulch, West End, Vanderbilt, West Nashville, Antioch, Hermitage, Donelson, Metrocenter, the Nations, Cool Springs, Sylvan Park, Percy Priest Lake, South Nashville, Goodlettsville, and Old Hickory. The markets where we don’t work include Clarksville, Murfreesboro, and Columbia, Tennessee.

This is our full time job, and all of our Insiders work pretty much all the time. If you’re coming in on a Saturday, just let your Insider know and we can have updated availability and pricing prepared to discuss in detail with you before you come. We love touring out of towners because we get to show off how much we love this city. We can show you the different neighborhoods, best bars to meet new people, and definitely our favorite restaurants. We’re foodies around here.

Yes! But we actually only know availability and pricing 60 days out. While we can definitely start narrowing down potential neighborhoods and apartments, we won’t truly be able to start the search process until we’re 60 days away from moving in! Don’t be afraid to reach out to us so we can connect and setup a game plan for when your moving date gets closer.

No worries! All of our agents offer video and Facetime tours so you can actually see where you’ll be living. Leasing a unit sight unseen can be stressful, we like to send videos so you know if that closet will fit all of your shoes, or if that particular unit has a wine rack. We love wine.

Not at all! We know almost all of the apartment communities in the Nashville area, and we will make sure that we give you every property that fits your needs.

Yes, we are absolutely based locally! We’re very fortunate to be the only locally owned and operated apartment locating service in the Nashville market. The Founder of our Company previously founded another apartment locating company in the Nashville market called Nashville Apartment Locators in 2016 before selling it to out-of-state investors then starting Apartment Insiders. We are very familiar with Nashville and its surrounding cities such as Brentwood and Franklin and can provide all kinds of great information about neighborhoods and school districts in addition to restaurant, shopping, and entertainment recommendations!

Great question! Apartment Insiders has the most apartment community relationships in the market over any other apartment locating service. You won't need to call anyone else because we will do a fast, efficient job for you and find you the perfect Nashville-area apartment.

While there are several different benefits to working with us, we’ll point out that the internet can offer you information about our local apartment market, but we have knowledge. In fact, being Knowledgeable is one of our Company’s Core Values.

One of our expert Apartment Insiders takes you to visit the top apartment community choices that you would like to tour in person!

No. The properties plan on paying us, and our cost is already worked into their marketing budgets. We have deep relationships with the apartment communities. We are talking to them and visiting them every single day. We often know where the best deals are. This includes information the internet doesn’t even know yet.

We get paid a small referral commission by the apartment management companies when you move in (it is paid from their advertising budget).

Yes, it really is! Apartment Insiders is a totally free apartment locating service. Working with us does not affect your rent amount whatsoever. In fact, we know where the best deals are being offered in the market and can take you to those opportunities.

It honestly really depends on many factors. Prices are usually a little higher from March to August and cool off some during August to February. That’s due to the usual seasonality in apartment pricing. However, there’s really no way to predict pricing exactly so following us on social media is the best way to stay up to date on the best deals! We often think about it as climate vs. weather. We have an idea of what the climate might be locally a year from now, but there is no way with any good level of certainty that we could tell you what exactly the weather will be like on this same day one year from now.

It’s best to tour when you’re ready to make a decision, typically 45-60 days out from your move-in date. Pricing, specials and availability are subject to change every 24 hours, so if you tour and don’t jump on a unit you run the risk of the price jumping as well as losing out on look and lease specials! Our process is highly efficient, yet it’s thorough and not rushed. Your personal Apartment Insiders Locator can guide you through this process to ensure your time isn’t wasted, but you’re making the best decision for you.

We do if they are managed by a management company (similar to an apartment)! We do not work with private rentals directly from a landlord.

Feeling safe is important for everyone when looking for a home. Since our agents are Licensed Real Estate Agents, we can’t discuss safety or demographic questions. Based on your preferences as we get to know you, we would love to make sure you’re in or near areas that interest you! We don’t want to represent one thing or another to you when we could be wrong. There are people of all types and backgrounds all over town. Additionally, crime doesn’t have an address and can honestly happen anywhere. Looking up local crime maps can provide with you with more data on that topic.

We can try to beat your renewal rental rate if you share it with us and are serious about moving! However, unfortunately we aren’t able to work with the apartment community on your behalf if you are interested in staying at that same apartment.

Our apartment locating service is totally free to you because we are paid from the apartment community where you lease. In order to receive credit for you leasing there, we need to be with you the first time you visit the apartment community. To minimize any confusion, it also helps to let the apartment community know that you are working with Apartment Insiders during any initial discussions with them. Also, please write your agent’s name and Apartment Insiders in the referral section of your paper application. If you are applying online, there is usually a section titled “How did you hear about us?” or “Referral source” where you must choose “Locator” or “Apartment Insiders” from the drop-down menu.

Yes! All apartment locators at Apartment Insiders are extremely professional, well-trained Licensed Tennessee Real Estate Agents.

Kinda. Here’s what we mean: We know what questions to ask to ensure you are fully informed and getting the best deal available. Sometimes we are able to spot pricing disparities with our trained eyes and Insider connections since real estate is an imperfect market. You benefit from that.

Our expert apartment locators don’t just generate a generic list for you, they provide a hyper-personalized and totally tailored list for you. If they give you that list weeks out from your tour date, by the time you’re actually ready to tour often 99% of those options will have either leased or seen a price change. We do this to ensure the most accurate pricing and availability that works for your move-in timeframe!

It’s totally free! We are paid a referral fee out of the apartment’s marketing budget. This doesn’t cause an increase in rent or fees for you either. Actually, we know where the best deals are. When we say free, we mean FREE!

Yep! Many apartments now offer pet facilities including dog parks, dog washing stations and access to running trails and parks.

Many apartments say no, but be sure to check your lease. Many apartment leases will specifically restrict visiting pets or limit visiting pets and require you to report any visiting pets and potentially pay temporary pet rent or a visiting pet fee for your furry guest!

Pet rent is an additional rent that you pay on top of your standard rent. Often it is per pet, the more, the more expensive and it can vary by type of pet or breed.

Some apartment communities also charge a pet fee during the application process to cover the cost of processing your pet application. As a fee, it is not refundable.

Almost all apartments that accept pets will require an additional deposit specifically to cover any damage done by your pet. This deposit is in addition to your standard deposit. It is refundable if your pet does not cause any damage. When you find that pet, let us know, we want to adopt them :)!

Pet applications are a common practice for apartment complexes. They typically want to know weight, breed, quantity, even references! Many also require a letter of good health from your vet. Even if you are approved, it doesn’t mean your pet will get approved. Many apartments will accept small, non-restricted breed dogs and cats, but large dogs, restricted breed dogs and exotic pets can be harder to place. Our apartment locators know which apartments take which pets and can help you avoid the pitfalls of pet applications.

We love our pets too, but they do come with some extra considerations when you are renting. Not all apartments accept pets, or all types of pets; and those that do usually require extra rent, deposit or application information.

Nashville is SUUUUUPER pet friendly. Almost all apartments in Nashville allow pets. There are tons of bars and restaurants that allow dogs on their patios as well. Almost all of the apartments allow non-aggressive dogs as roommates (with a deposit), and some have dog parks, green areas, and even small yards. If you have an “aggressive” breed (we use quotations because we know your pit bull is sweet) then your options will be more limited, but they still exist. Contact us and we can give you the details on what to expect and different options. Cats are typically allowed as well!

In the State of Tennessee, any occupant over the age of 18 residing in the unit must be listed on the lease. Sometimes the occupant can be listed as an approved guest rather than a leaseholder. Different apartment communities address this issue differently. Your Insider can help you navigate this.

Most properties require you to make 3 times the monthly rent as your gross income for the month (that’s before taxes!) For example: If the apartment costs $2,000 per month, you’d need to bring in $6,000 per month before taxes to qualify.

We totally get it! Sometimes things change. If that’s the case, your locator can talk through how you’re feeling with you and help you find something that feels right. In some cases this might mean you lose those application fees for your original unit, but when you’re talking about where you’ll live for a year, sometimes it washes out!

For bad credit and misdemeanors: Your Insider will dive deeper with you about the details about your credit or misdemeanor – depending on this, the options that accept these details might be limited, but if they are out there we will help you find them! For evictions and felonies: Most properties that work with us do not accept applicants with any felonies or evictions on their records unless they are over 10 years old. Even if they are over 10 years old, there still may be some challenges.

It can be! By location we don’t mean the location in Nashville, more so the location of the actual apartment unit within the apartment community. Do you want to be close to the pool? Or maybe overlooking a greenway? Do you like morning sun vs. afternoon sun on your balcony (if the apartment offers one)? How close is your parking? And very important – how many stairs are you willing to climb with your groceries? The location of a specific apartment unit within an apartment community can make or break your experience living there and definitely needs to be considered. An expert Nashville apartment locator at Apartment Insiders can help you navigate all of this!

While there are many quality apartments that are not brand new, the age of the building is a factor in several things: price, maintenance and style to name a few. Think about how this might affect the apartment communities' floor plans, amenities, and maintenance. Then, weigh that against any potential budget savings on rent and proximity to the location you want. This will help you make the right decision.

The onsite leasing professional is not the one who will be fixing your dishwasher if it breaks. He or she is often not the property manager. It is always a good idea to meet these people before move in. Introduce yourself and have a short conversation, so they are more likely to remember your name and face if there is an issue you need addressed down the line.

Once you have chosen an apartment community, it is not a bad idea to visit it during the evening or on the weekend. If you can, specifically visit the apartment unit you are considering. If you only visit during the week, while most people are at work, you will not get a true appreciation for the neighbors. Don’t forget – corner unit apartments have less adjoining walls, so they tend not to have as many noise issues, and apartments on top floor don’t have any overhead noise.

You know how many bedrooms you want in your apartment, but do you know how you want the floor plan laid out? Did you know you have a choice? While many apartments have similar floor plan configurations per the number of bedrooms, they often have subtle differences that can make each apartment distinction. For example, where are the washer and dryer located in the apartment? How close are the bedrooms to the apartment’s front door? Do individual rooms have balconies vs. one main balcony? Did you know some apartments offer a den? You might be surprised at the variety, so don’t just go on the number of bedrooms and baths – look at each apartment’s layout to see which apartment suits your needs.

Renting an apartment in Nashville is always a challenge for someone who is not familiar with Nashville’s apartment rental property market, or perhaps they are not familiar with Nashville in general. It seems like there are many factors that go into choosing a place to rent. There are some things many people do not think to consider that might drastically affect how much you enjoy your new home. When the expert apartment locators at Apartment Insiders evaluate a new Nashville apartment or rental property, we consider a laundry list of things. Some of the factors we consider are obvious: number or bedrooms, unit availability, pet policies, rent, and location. However, these are not the only factors that should go into your Nashville apartment search. Apartment Insiders can help you with things you might not have thought about.

Some apartments offer all or some of your utilities with your rent, but the large majority do not. Therefore, think about: Electric heating vs. gas Age of the property Location and size of windows What providers are available at the property and their rates In conclusion, all of those may affect how much your monthly bills come out to.

First of all, when considering an apartment, you have to think about more than just rent! In addition to moving costs, there are fees and deposits, pet costs and utilities, that all come into play. Snag a roommate! Since sharing the rent for all the communal spaces can really cut your costs, finding someone you can get along with and share your space with can help you get into an area or apartment that you really want to be in. Prioritize. Do you really want a fantastic interior? A downtown view? A short commute? Also central locations + great interiors + great amenities = $$$$. But if you can figure out what is most important to you, you can usually find really nice amenities and interiors a little further away for a MUCH better price. Look for Specials. Finally, this is where our apartment locators really hook you up! While most communities don’t advertise their specials except on their own site, we keep a current database of current unadvertised and advertised specials

EARLY LEASE TERMINATION - Usually leases prohibit early termination with only a few very select exceptions that are legally required, or allow you terminate early, but only with a hefty penalty. TRANSFERRING A LEASE - This is also rarely allowed, or comes with many stipulations and possible fees. Each lease is different though, so it’s important to read it carefully and understand the terms to which you are agreeing!

Leases are long legal documents, but the main information includes: Your information and any roommate’s information as the renter(s) The apartment or rental property legal description (what you are renting) The landlord’s information The start and finish date of the lease The agreed upon rent and when it is due (this is usually monthly) The terms of lease, for example: Rules regarding pets Rules regarding guests What you are responsible for, ie the yard, etc. Terms regarding transferring the lease Non-renewal terms (how you need to leave the property if you decide not to renew) There’s lots more in a lease, but these are the highlights.

The only universal requirement to sign a lease is that you be at least 18 years old and legally able to sign a contract. Aside from that though, every landlord / property owner is different in their requirements for whom they will lease to. By law they cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, familial status, or national origin. What owners and landlords usually look at is your income, your rental history, your credit and your public record.

In short, an apartment lease is a legal contract between you and apartment owner / landlord that you will pay a certain amount of money each period (usually a month) and abide by the rules outlined in the lease and in exchange the apartment owner / landlord will allow you to occupy the property for the duration of the contract.