Updated November 2026 by the Apartment List Renter Editorial team.
To schedule an apartment tour, use the property's online scheduler if it shows open times. If you can't book online or need to check availability, call or message the leasing contact with your move-in date and two times that work for you.
Before you head out, confirm the date, time, and how to join or get in. If you only received a message saying your request was received, follow up with the property before making the trip.
Follow these five steps for each apartment on your shortlist.
Start with two questions. Is the apartment available for your move-in date? Will the tour show that apartment, a model, or a similar floor plan? Ask both before you pick a time, and use the apartment number from the listing when it shows one. The guide to finding an apartment fast advises confirming availability directly with the property before you invest time in a tour.
Next, confirm you are dealing with the property before you send anything. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises searching the owner's or rental company's name with the words "complaint," "review," or "scam." Use the phone number or email listed on the property's own website. The FTC also warns that scammers may offer a self-guided tour by copying listings from landlords who use self-tour services. A tour alone does not prove a listing is real.
The FTC advises walking away if anyone pressures you to decide quickly to get a deal. It calls insistence on payment by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency a scam. The rental scam guide lists more warning signs.
Start with the tour or contact option on the property's website or listing. Some booking tools schedule a time right away and send a confirmation. Others send a request that the property answers later. If you find neither option, call the leasing office.
Apartment List's Guide to Choosing a Booking Route
| Booking Route | Use It When | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Property scheduler | The property's website shows open times | A confirmation with the date and time |
| Phone call | You need to check availability or want an answer today | The name of the person you spoke with, then a text or email with the details |
| Email or text | You want the times in writing and are not in a hurry | A reply with a confirmed time |
| Listing platform request, such as Apartment List | You are comparing several apartments | Whether you received a confirmed time or only a request |
Source: Apartment List Renter Editorial team; Apartment List renter support FAQ (November 2026).
Apartment List's renter support FAQ says renters can request a tour of a specific property from its listing. It recommends calling the number on the listing to confirm the property received the request. The same FAQ distinguishes a request from a tour booked directly through Apartment List, so check which one you made.
Choose the format that answers your open questions. A guided in-person tour lets you ask the agent questions as you walk through. A self-guided tour lets you explore on your own with a temporary code or key, and the self-guided tour guide explains what to expect. A live video tour lets you see the apartment before you visit, and the online tour guide covers what video can and cannot show.
Send one message that asks about availability, what the tour will show, and two time windows:
Hi [Name], I'm interested in the [bedroom count] at [community name or address] and need to move in by [move-in date]. Is [apartment number or floor plan] available for that date? Will the tour show that apartment, a model, or a similar floor plan? I'd like a [preferred tour format] tour on [day and time window] or [day and time window]. Which works better?
For the first request, share your name, contact details, and preferred times. If a self-guided tour asks for ID, confirm the exact verification link with the property using contact information you found independently. Keep your Social Security number out of tour messages.
If you need a step-free route or a change to how the tour is run, contact the property when you book. Ask, "Is there a step-free route from the entrance to the apartment I'll see?" and ask the property to confirm what will be available for your visit.
A tour is confirmed when the property or its booking tool gives you a date and time. A phone confirmation can establish the appointment, and a text or email gives you the details to keep handy. Check that the confirmation includes:
If you confirmed by phone, send a short text or email to match: "Confirming Saturday at 10:30 for apartment [number] at [address]. Please reply if anything changes."
If you have no confirmed time and the visit is getting close, call the verified contact before you leave. A message saying your request was received may not be a confirmed appointment. Say when you sent the request, name the apartment or floor plan, and ask for a confirmed time. If the property can't confirm one, ask for its next openings or move on to the next apartment on your shortlist.
If your plans change, follow the change instructions in your confirmation or contact the property directly. Get the replacement time confirmed before you rearrange the rest of your day.
Group tours that are near each other, and leave time for travel and parking between stops. Build your itinerary around the slots you have confirmed.
Example (hypothetical): You have a confirmed 1:00 p.m. tour and a pending request for 1:30 p.m. across town. Keep 1:00 fixed and ask the second property for a later time, such as 2:30 p.m., so the drive and parking fit between visits. Confirm the new time before you leave the first apartment.
Before you leave, confirm where you are going, how you will get in, and whether you will see the actual apartment or a model. A request is quick to send, but only a confirmation tells you where to be and when. If all you have is a message that the request was received, call the verified contact first.
Once your tour is confirmed, use What to Look For (and Ask) When Touring an Apartment to prepare. It covers what to inspect and what to ask once you arrive.
Booking guidance comes from Apartment List Support's renter FAQ. Listing-verification guidance comes from the Federal Trade Commission's Rental Listing Scams page. Both were read in November 2026.
Have your name, contact details, the apartment or floor plan you want, your move-in date, and two time windows ready. If a self-guided tour asks for ID, confirm the verification link with the property using contact information you found independently.
Apartment List's guide to when to start an apartment search, updated October 2026, suggests touring about four to six weeks before move-in, adjusting for the availability dates you find. That is when to start touring. How far ahead to book a specific slot depends on the property's open times, so ask for its next openings and get the one you choose confirmed.
In unit laundry, Granite counters, Hardwood floors, Dishwasher, Pet friendly, 24hr maintenance + more
In unit laundry, Patio / balcony, Hardwood floors, Dishwasher, 24hr maintenance, Garage + more
