Searching through available apartments in your area, finding the right space for your budget, family, or future plans, can be stressful. However, once you find that ideal apartment, you still have to pass the apartment’s application process. Especially if you’ve never gone through this process before, you may not come prepared or even know what to expect. Learn a few key things about the apartment application process before jumping in blind and ill-suited.

Every landlord has their own unique application form, so be sure to check with the management company or landlord in advance of the viewing to see if there are any unexpected documents, a particular legal document or specific forms you need to bring. This will help speed up the process. You can prepare for most apartment complex’s rental application by bringing a photo ID, letter of employment, copies of your last few paystubs, W-2s from the last 3 years, vehicle information, asset documents, and of course, pet information if you have cats and dogs coming with you to a new apartment.

Online rental application forms are increasingly more common, but upon contacting a new apartment complex, they may still ask you to come into the office. Either way, call ahead of time so you are starting the application on the right foot. Whether you are heading into the renter’s office directly or doing everything online, there are several critical parts of an apartment application. The first is financial: proof of income. Your landlord will need to know that you are able to pay your rent on time each month, and this can be substantiated with pay stubs, W-2s, and a letter of proof of employment, which should include how many hours you work, your rate of pay, and how much you earn each week.

A future landlord will also ask for a credit check or a copy of your credit score during the apartment application process. If you have bad credit, this will affect your chances of getting approved because it is proof for the landlord that you aren’t financially stable enough to sign a lease. However, that doesn’t mean you cannot be approved - a co-signer may be what you need. Once you’ve been approved, however, you are put through for a background check and a check into your rental history. If there is anything negative on your rental history, such as non-payment or breaking a lease, a future landlord may not be willing to take a chance.

Whether you are looking for 1 or 3 bedroom Oviedo apartments, there will be an application process. So, it is important to be prepared before you start the process.