Looking for an apartment is horrible. But technology can help. If you're smart, you can cut through the junk and beat the competition en route to a sweet pad. If you're planning to rent in a city, your search is bound to go through good old Craigslist—especially now that its listings no longer appear on Padmapper. Here's how to navigate the chaos.

The Basics

There's no getting around it, finding an apartment is a lot of work. Get organized, use the technology at your disposal, and you'll save yourself a lot of headaches. There are a few things you should know before you start looking.

Be fast and furious: People who post attractive listings get bombarded with messages. Respond as quickly as possible to make sure you're one of the first people to see the apartment. If you like the place, push to sign a lease as quickly as possible. Email and etiquette: Have a couple of different form letters ready to go in a text document. One that you send to realtors, another for people who are just looking for someone to live in an open room. If a listing asks you to describe yourself, don't send an epic biography. Focus on what's actually interesting about you and make sure you include three key points: Clean, quiet, gainfully employed. Paperwork: On apartment visits, bring the following: Checks, a recommendation letter from someone reputable, an employment letter or recent paystub, and a current credit check. You'll need to get all of this information together no matter what, and showing up prepared proves that you're responsible. It also means you can sign on the spot if the place is perfect. For info on a free credit report, check out the FTC's FAQ . Give yourself enough time: Finding the perfect place at the right price can take a while. Start looking a month or two before you move in. The place you end up taking might not be on the market until a just a couple of weeks before your move-in date, but by starting early, you'll get familiar with the market and you'll know when you've hit a winner. Don't get scammed: Never wire money to anyone or deal with a landlord who won't meet you in person. Google your landlord to make sure they're legit. Figure out who the current or past tenants are, and make sure he's not a prick.

Craigslist search basics

Open up 20 browser tabs and do keyword searches on Craigslist for everything you could possibly want: Neighborhood, price range, local attractions, public transportation, pets, no broker fee, etc. Make sure to search for possible misspellings (Williamsburgh?). You'll want to save these searches and run them at least a few times a day so that you can jump on a listing when it's up (see the note on speed above).