How to obtain an apartment lease in another state?

aznchick808: How to obtain an apartment lease in another state?
I am almost graduating soon and I am planning to move to another state at the opposite side of the country. Of course I need a place to live and I want to have one before I leave my place now. Obviously I cannot travel to and from states just to check out apartments. How should I go about obtaining an apartment (a decent one at that) without possibly getting screwed over and whatnot with my situation?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Remember to Breathe
I don’t know how it works where you live but in Australia you can rent the apartment without viewing it. You basically just fill out an application form for the apartment in question, and if it’s granted you can sign the lease via fax.

Have a look for some apartments with whatever website and then contact the agent dealing with that property.

Answer by Random
you could make friends with someone on the internet that lives in the area you want to search, then you could put you crap in storage and crash at their house for a few weeks. You just need to feel secure that they are not complete psychos. That is what I would do, but I am not a young lady, I am an old dude, so I really don’t have much to worry about.

Answer by wg0z
you’re less likely to have problems if you wait until you get there. apartment-hunting should be done in person.

Answer by Where’s my scooby snack?
If you have access to a fax machine…you could possibly ask the landlord/apartment manager to fax u the lease agreement to sign and then you can fax it or mail it back. Or they can just send it thru regular mail.

It’s always best to physically look at the apartment…that way you can be sure there are no immediate problems…such as leaky pipes, mold, dust, old carpets.

If you have friends or family living in the state you plan on moving to…you can ask them to apartment hunt for you and send you pictures.

You might just want to search for one or two apartments and then set up an appointment to look at them. Then when u have time, fly or drive to that area and then you can make a better decision on whether or not to take them.