According to the Statista Research Department, Japan reached a milestone of 21.15 million one-person households in 2020. This accounted for almost 38% of total households in the country. Japan’s National Institute of Population and Social Security Research has predicted that this number will continue to rise due to the increasing number of unmarried people, resulting in Japan seeing 23.3 million one-person households or 44.3% of total households in the country in the future.

With the increase of single individuals requiring housing, they need to know what to look for and how to prepare for the inevitable apartment hunt before starting work or school. 

Where possible, it’s recommended to view potential property listings in person as it not only provides potential tenants with the opportunity to “get a feel for the space” but also allows them to conduct their self-inspections, check that the place matches the photos and descriptions, and canvass the neighborhood and its amenities and services either before or after the appointment. Real estate agencies such as Village House help make apartment viewings easier by getting prospective tenants to fill out an online application form and scheduling a time and date that suits your busy schedule.

In this article, we’ll delve deeper into how you can be ideally prepared for when you head off to your apartment viewing appointment along with what you should bring, and what you should prepare beforehand.

Things to Prepare in Advance

There’s a slew of things you can do in advance before you go to your apartment viewing. For those who are moving into an unfurnished apartment and want to bring their furniture and appliances with them, it’s best to measure said furniture and appliances and make a note of the measurements and dimensions. Those who are looking to buy furniture can check out measurements and dimensions on the manufacturer’s or shop’s website. 

The reason we recommend taking down such measurements is that you want to ensure that they will fit into the spaces of the apartment you’ll potentially move into. Moreover, you’ll also want to ensure that you’ll be able to get the furniture into the building!

For appliances, you may want to measure the length of the electrical cord and compare that against the distance of the power outlets from where you may want to place your appliance in the new apartment. 

Find an Accompanying Person

Getting a second opinion from someone who is objective is always a great idea, especially when apartment hunting. Thus, if at all possible, try to rope in a trusted friend, family member, or even colleague when you go look at apartments. Not only can they help you with your inspection of the place, but they may also be able to point out things you may have missed or offer advice on something you may not have thought of. 

Having someone else in your corner will also alleviate pressure from the real estate agent, landlord, or owner who may try to get you to sign a lease on the spot by only pointing out the positive aspects and features of the place you’re viewing. 

What to Bring

A measuring tape will become your new best friend when viewing apartments. This is because you can measure the dimensions of the rooms and compare them against the measurements of your furniture and appliances to see if they’ll fit. That means you need to bring your list of furniture and appliance measurements and dimensions too!

It goes without saying but bringing your smartphone is a must as you can use it to take notes and pictures of the apartment you’re viewing. If you prefer to go old-school, bring a notepad and pen or pencil and a camera so you can take notes while doing your self-inspection of the place and take pictures to look back at later. 

Bringing your smartphone charger is also a great idea as you can use it to test out the power outlets to make sure they work.

Just in case you adore the apartment you’re viewing and want to snag it before another prospective tenant does, be sure to bring all the correct and necessary paperwork with you. This can include:

• Filled out an application form
• Form of ID
• Proof of income (bank statements, work contract)
• Letters of recommendation
• Guarantor information

Lastly, prepare a checklist of things to inspect for your self-inspection. You may ask the person accompanying you to make a checklist of their own if they feel so inclined. Then you can put them side-by-side and make a pros and cons list. Also, it’s helpful to prepare a list of questions you may want to ask the real estate agent, landlord, or owner so you can be thorough about getting all the information you require. 

Create an Apartment Viewing Checklist

Each person’s checklist for their self-inspection will differ as will questions they may want to put forward to the real estate, landlord, or owner. To give you a head start, here are some common things to check and ask when going apartment hunting:

• Checklist for self-inspection
  • Check the noise levels – how soundproof is the apartment? Can you hear the neighbors next door, upstairs, etc., the cars outside?
  • Check for water stains, leaks, etc. 
  • Check for insect carcasses, animal droppings, etc.
  • Open and close doors, drawers, cabinets, windows, etc. to make sure they work and don’t squeak/slide open and close smoothly
  • Flush the toilet 
  • Test out the taps – does the water run clear and is the water pressure good?
  • Test the front door locks – is it secure?
  • Test the window locks – is it secure? Do the windows look into another building, window, etc.?
  • Test the light switches – do they work? Do the lights turn on properly? Do they flicker?
  • Measure the spaces in the living room and bedroom and check the measurements against the measurements of your furniture and appliances
  • Check the strength of your smartphone signal – do you have all 5 bars?
  • Check for cracks, peeling paint, and holes in the walls, and test for loose floorboards or worn carpets
  • Take a walk around the neighborhood and make a note of what amenities and services are nearby
• Questions to ask the real estate agent, landlord, or owner
  • How much are the initial move-in costs and what can be negotiated away?
  • Are white goods in the kitchen included – washing machine, refrigerator, stove, etc.?
  • Why did the last tenant move out?
  • Have there been any issues/complaints with the neighbors – noise complaints, etc.?
  • Is there a bicycle garage and is there a fee for this amenity?
  • Is there a car garage? What’s the parking fee?
  • How’s the neighborhood – Are there any issues with theft, safety, etc.?
  • What’s the pet policy for this apartment?
  • Are there any extra monthly payments on top of the monthly rent?
  • Approximately how much are utilities (gas, water, power) per month?
  • What kind of security is there for the building?

Compare the Different Properties

Prepare a side-by-side comparison of all the properties you want to visit and make an appointment for, and make a note of:

• Initial costs
• Rent
• Neighborhood
• Size
• Distance to station
• Distance to school/work
• Furnished or unfurnished
• What floor it’s on

Once you have all the above information and any other features or requirements you may want to add, sort the properties according to the ones that meet your personal needs and requirements. You can then schedule viewings for the properties you’re most interested in first to try to make sure you have a higher chance of getting it. 

In sum, preparing for a rental property viewing doesn’t have to be daunting and stressful so long as you do your due diligence, do thorough research, and make the necessary preparations before your apartment viewing appointment. If you’re still unsure of what to do, what to bring, or even how to go about getting an appointment for a viewing, real estate organizations such as Village House have representatives who can help you out, either online or on the phone. They even provide their services in multiple languages including Japanese, English, Chinese, and Portuguese.

Related articles:

• A Student’s Guide to Apartment Hunting
• Living Alone for the First Time? Checklist of All the Things You Need
• First Time Renting Alone? Essential Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent
• I Live Alone but I Want to Keep a Dog! Things to Know about the Necessary Costs and How to Take Care of a Dog
• Living Costs for College Students Living Alone: Tips for Saving Money!

CheR

Freelance writer with over 2 years of experience writing for the Village House Blog, ESL teacher, and digital nomad who has lived in countries including The Czech Republic, The UK, The U.A.E., Japan, and most recently, Georgia. Is constantly on the hunt for the best, most optimal apartment for remote work when not enjoying going to film festivals, concerts, and the theater.