# Apartment Checklists and Move-In Budget | Renter Resources

> Organize your apartment search with a preparation checklist, move-in budget and screening questions. Use the tools without submitting an apartment inquiry.

URL: https://felonfriendlyapartments.com/renter-resources/

BEFORE YOU APPLY

# Get your apartment search ready before you apply

Use these tools to get your search in order before you spend money on applications. They can’t predict approval or tell you if a record will pass.

What you enter here stays on this page. It isn’t sent or saved, and reloading the page clears it. The apartment search form is separate.

[Preparation checklist](#checklist) · [Move-in budget](#budget) · [Screening questions](#questions) · [All 65 guides](#guides)

## Support beyond the apartment search

Find reentry programs, food assistance, legal aid, housing help and employment resources across Austin, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio.

[See local help and next steps →](/local-resources/)

## Checklist before you apply

Go through these steps at your own pace. Checking them all off means you’re ready, not that you’ll be approved.

 Choose your metro, move date and rent range. Gather the ID and proof of income the property asks for. Tell us the case dates and outcomes you’re OK sharing so we can match them to the criteria. Let our team check the property’s current rental criteria for you. Check any screening report you get for mistakes. If you’re under supervision, confirm address rules with your supervising officer. Ask about open units and get every fee in writing before you pay.

0 of 7 steps checked.

[Read: check your background before you apply](/guide/how-to-check-your-own-background-before-you-apply/)

## Move-in budget planner

Enter your best guess in dollars. Leave a cost blank if you don’t know it. The result stays a partial estimate until every field is filled in. Ask the property for the real charges, including ongoing fees and any prorated rent.

First month rentSecurity depositApplication and admin feesUtility setup and depositsMoving and other upfront costsCash available

Enter costs and cash available to estimate your move-in budget.

## Questions to ask before paying fees

Pick the topics that matter to you. We check each community’s screening criteria, so these cover what you still confirm yourself. You don’t need to give offense details or dates.

 Deposits and holding fees Move-in date and lease start Parole or probation address rules Errors or missing case outcomes on a report

- Can I see your full fee schedule before applying?

- Is the apartment available for my move date, and which fees are refundable?

[Read: automatic decline versus individual review](/guide/auto-decline-vs-case-by-case-review/)

## All 65 renter guides

### Screening reports and your rights

Understand reports, errors, notices, and your rights in screening.

- [Arrest vs. Conviction: Reading a Tenant Screening Report](/guide/arrest-vs-conviction-on-a-background-check/)
- [Automatic Denial or Individual Apartment Review?](/guide/auto-decline-vs-case-by-case-review/)
- [Apartment Lookback Periods: Which Date Actually Counts?](/guide/criminal-background-lookback-periods-explained/)
- [Will a DWI Appear on an Apartment Background Check?](/guide/does-a-dwi-show-up-on-an-apartment-background-check/)
- [Criminal Records and Fair Housing: Texas Renter Guide 2026](/guide/fair-housing-and-criminal-records-in-2026/)
- [How Texas Apartment Background Checks Fit Together](/guide/how-apartment-background-checks-work-in-texas/)
- [Dispute an Apartment Background Error: A Practical Checklist](/guide/how-to-dispute-background-check-errors/)
- [Apartment Adverse Action Notices: What to Do Next](/guide/the-adverse-action-notice-explained/)
- [What Does a Felony Screening Exclusion Actually Mean?](/guide/what-a-felony-hard-stop-looks-like/)
- [Violent Offense Screening Exclusions: Check the Exact Rule](/guide/when-a-violent-offense-is-a-hard-stop/)
- [Find the Company Behind Your Apartment Screening Report](/guide/which-tenant-screening-companies-apartments-use/)
- [An Expunged Case Still on a Tenant Report? Check These Steps](/guide/why-an-expunged-record-can-still-appear-on-screening/)
- [Why a Completed Deferred Case Can Still Appear on Screening](/guide/why-deferred-adjudication-still-shows-on-screening-reports/)
- [Why Dismissed Charges May Still Appear on Background Checks](/guide/why-dismissed-charges-still-show-on-background-checks/)
- [Denied Housing Over a Record? Separate Your Next Steps](/guide/your-rights-when-denied-housing-over-a-criminal-record/)

### Your record situation

Guides about offense types, case outcomes and clearing a record.

- [Class A, B and C Misdemeanors in Apartment Screening](/guide/class-a-vs-class-b-misdemeanor-and-apartment-approval/)
- [Deferred Adjudication vs. Conviction: What Renters Need](/guide/deferred-adjudication-vs-a-conviction-to-a-landlord/)
- [Misdemeanor or Felony DWI: Questions Before Renting](/guide/dwi-misdemeanor-vs-felony-and-apartment-approval/)
- [Texas DWI Nondisclosure: Prepare for an Eligibility Review](/guide/dwi-nondisclosure-in-texas/)
- [Texas Expunction Under Chapter 55A: A Renter’s Starting Point](/guide/expungement-in-texas-chapter-55a/)
- [What Individualized Review Means for a Felony Record](/guide/felony-records-and-individualized-assessment/)
- [After Nondisclosure: Checking Your Apartment Screening](/guide/how-a-non-disclosure-order-affects-apartment-screening/)
- [Conviction Age and Apartment Criteria: Compare the Dates](/guide/how-conviction-age-affects-apartment-approval/)
- [Domestic Violence Records and Apartment Screening](/guide/how-landlords-treat-domestic-violence-records/)
- [Multiple Convictions: Organize Your Apartment Review](/guide/how-multiple-convictions-change-apartment-screening/)
- [An Older Violent Offense Record: Screening Questions](/guide/how-offense-age-affects-violent-record-approval/)
- [Find Texas Legal Help for Expunction or Nondisclosure](/guide/how-to-find-legal-help-to-clear-your-record/)
- [Misdemeanor vs. Felony: How Apartment Policies Differ](/guide/misdemeanor-vs-felony-screening-treatment/)
- [Texas Nondisclosure Orders: What Chapter 411 Covers](/guide/order-of-non-disclosure-in-texas-chapter-411/)
- [Possession vs. Distribution: How Rental Criteria Differ](/guide/possession-vs-distribution-on-apartment-screening/)
- [Property Crime Records and Individual Apartment Review](/guide/property-crime-and-case-by-case-review/)
- [Renting After a Drug Conviction: A Texas Search Plan](/guide/renting-after-a-drug-conviction-in-texas/)
- [Need to Move During Active Deferred Adjudication?](/guide/renting-during-active-deferred-adjudication/)
- [A Texas Apartment Search After a DWI: Where to Begin](/guide/renting-with-a-dwi-in-texas/)
- [Renting With a Nonviolent Felony: How Policies Define It](/guide/renting-with-a-nonviolent-felony-in-texas/)
- [After a Theft Conviction: Prepare Your Texas Rental Search](/guide/renting-with-a-theft-conviction-in-texas/)
- [A Weapons Charge and a Texas Apartment Application](/guide/renting-with-a-weapons-charge-in-texas/)
- [Old Felony or Recent Conviction: Compare Rental Timelines](/guide/renting-with-an-old-felony-vs-a-recent-one/)
- [An Old Misdemeanor and a New Texas Apartment Search](/guide/renting-with-an-old-misdemeanor-in-texas/)
- [Renting With a Pending Case in Texas: Know Before Applying](/guide/renting-with-an-open-or-pending-case-in-texas/)
- [When Does an Old Misdemeanor Stop Affecting a Rental?](/guide/when-a-misdemeanor-stops-mattering-to-a-landlord/)
- [Sealing a Deferred Case: Nondisclosure and Rental Reports](/guide/when-a-non-disclosure-order-clears-deferred-adjudication/)
- [Apartments That Consider Drug Convictions: What We Check](/guide/which-apartments-review-drug-convictions/)
- [Will an Apartment Review a Felony? How We Check](/guide/which-apartments-review-felony-convictions/)
- [Apartment Review With More Than One Conviction](/guide/which-apartments-review-multiple-offense-histories/)
- [Renting With a Violent Offense Record: What We Check](/guide/which-apartments-review-violent-offenses/)
- [Checking an Apartment’s Misdemeanor Screening Rules](/guide/which-apartments-screen-out-misdemeanors/)
- [Theft and Fraud Records: Questions for Apartment Review](/guide/why-theft-and-fraud-worry-landlords-most/)

### Application preparation

Organize documents, see what we check in the criteria, and avoid unnecessary fees.

- [Why Apartment Locating Is Free to Renters | Our Fees](/guide/how-this-apartment-locating-service-is-free/)
- [Check Your Records Before an Apartment Application](/guide/how-to-check-your-own-background-before-you-apply/)
- [Describing Deferred Adjudication on a Rental Application](/guide/how-to-explain-a-deferred-case-on-an-application/)
- [Before You Pay: Check an Apartment Listing for Scams](/guide/how-to-spot-apartment-and-housing-scams/)
- [Texas Rental Selection Criteria: Know Before You Pay](/guide/texas-selection-criteria-notice-explained/)
- [Felony Apartment Application: Documents to Gather](/guide/what-to-have-ready-before-you-apply-with-a-felony/)
- [Deferred Adjudication: Your Rental Document Checklist](/guide/what-to-have-ready-with-a-deferred-record/)
- [Prepare a Misdemeanor Rental Application Without Guessing](/guide/what-to-prepare-before-applying-with-a-misdemeanor/)

### Reentry and supervised housing

Plan around release dates, supervision requirements, and address approval.

- [Income Documents for Your First Apartment After Reentry](/guide/income-and-employment-proof-for-reentry-renters/)
- [An Apartment Lease and Parole Address Approval Are Separate](/guide/independent-apartment-vs-approved-address-requirements/)
- [Facing a Parole Housing Deadline? Plan the Next Calls](/guide/meeting-a-parole-approved-residence-deadline/)
- [Leaving TDCJ: Prepare for an Independent Apartment](/guide/moving-from-a-tdcj-facility-to-an-independent-apartment/)
- [Moving on Probation in Texas: Address Permission Steps](/guide/probation-approved-residence-requirements/)
- [Probation or Parole: Who Must Review Your Apartment Move?](/guide/probation-vs-parole-for-apartment-approval/)
- [Renting on Probation: Your Texas Apartment Search Plan](/guide/renting-while-on-probation-in-texas/)
- [Before Parole Address Review: Questions and Documents](/guide/what-your-parole-officer-needs-to-approve-an-apartment/)
- [TDCJ Housing Referrals and an Independent Apartment Search](/guide/why-the-tdcj-ahr-directory-covers-group-housing-not-apartments/)

## Ready for a personalized search?

[Start your free apartment search →](/find-apartments/)