7 red flags I now look for every single apartment tour (learned the hard way)

I've rented 6 apartments in Charlotte since 2018 and paid the price in two of them for missing things I should have caught on the tour. Here's the list I now run through every single time.

1. They won't let you see the actual unit until move-in. They offer you a "model unit" instead. This means either the actual unit isn't ready to show, or it's in worse shape than the model. Both are problems.

2. The photos show a "model unit." Check the listing photos carefully. If the unit number in the photos doesn't match the unit you're renting, you're buying something you haven't seen.

3. They rush you through the common areas. If the tour is moving at the speed of someone who doesn't want you to look closely, you should look closely.

4. They can't answer maintenance response time questions. Ask specifically: "What's your average response time for non-emergency maintenance requests?" If they say "we respond quickly" or "we have a great team" and not an actual timeframe, that's the answer.

5. The parking lot is falling apart. Deferred maintenance on common areas is a preview of deferred maintenance on your unit.

6. Current tenants look uncomfortable when you ask them questions. Try to talk to one. If they give one-word answers and don't make eye contact, something's wrong. If they're genuinely happy, they'll tell you.

7. The lease has a "no withholding rent for any reason" clause. This is an attempt to waive your statutory rights under NC law. You should understand exactly what you're signing before agreeing to anything like this.