6 tips for finding the perfect rental on LI

Garden apartment complexes are a Long Island staple. If you're thinking of renting in one, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Get a feel for the complex. Apartment complexes often have a furnished model apartment to show prospective tenants, but that only tells part of the story. "Walk around the complex," advises Bridget Cook of Coldwell Banker Residential in Smithtown. "Go to the rental office and see how it's run, how friendly they are."

2. Stand out from competing tenants. Carry documentation to prove your stellar qualifications on the spot. "Come prepared with a tax return or pay stubs," says Lori Schlesinger of Lori & Associates Realty in Cedarhurst, adding, "The more well equipped you come, the more likely they'll feel you're better organized, and they'll want to choose you."

3. Pick the best time to rent. Look in the spring, when inventory is at its highest. "People purchase houses in the spring, February through May, because they want to be in the school district by summer so they can register their kids," Cook says.

4. Score renters perks. Offer to move in mid-month, especially in the fall. "If you're ready to move in in a couple of weeks, as opposed to two months down the road, there might be incentives offered for a quick move," says David Berger, director of leasing for Fairfield Properties, a Commack-based builder, owner and manager of rental properties. "There are times there were rent concessions, a half-month free, an iPod, a TV'' as incentives.

5. Find a stable community. Look into co-ops that traditionally have been owner-occupied. Once hard to find, these are becoming more available due to sluggish real estate sales. "In the past, you hardly ever saw something come up for a rental," Schlesinger says. "Only recently, it's difficult to sell co-ops, so people are starting to rent."

6. Reap rewards for good credit. You may be able to use your good credit to negotiate a lower security deposit, Berger says. "Our standard is one month's security, but we've offered as low as $99 for people with excellent credit," he says.

For more tips -- and to see garden apartments currently available for rent, like this one in North Babylon for $1,965 a month. -- click here.

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