CU Boulder Apartment Tour Checklist: 17 Red Flags Every Student Must Check (Before You Sign)

Finding your first off-campus place near CU is exciting, until you’re stuck in a nightmare apartment with a landlord who ghosts you every time something breaks. Boulder’s rental market moves fast, and landlords know most college students have never signed a lease before. That inexperience? They count on it.

This checklist covers the 17 red flags you need to check before putting your name on anything. Pull it up on your phone during tours and don’t skip these steps.

Your quick-reference list:

Water stains on ceilings, walls, or windows
Non-functioning locks on doors and windows
Flickering lights or dead outlets
Visible mold in bathrooms or kitchens
Strong musty or chemical odors
Cracked or broken windows
Inadequate heating or AC
Pest droppings or rodent signs
Damaged or warped flooring
Unclear lease terms about maintenance
Pressure to sign immediately
Poor cell reception or no internet
Excessive noise during daytime
Missing fire safety equipment
Unclear move-out and deposit policies
No documentation of existing damage
Landlord won’t provide tenant references

Water Stains on Ceilings, Walls, or Windows

Those brown or yellow spots aren’t just ugly, they signal moisture problems that lead to mold and structural damage.

Check every ceiling in each room (landlords love hiding damage in back bedrooms)
Scan walls around outlets and corners
Inspect window frames, Colorado weather causes serious sealing issues
Document everything with photos
Ask directly what caused any stains you find

If they give vague answers without proof of repairs, walk away.

2. Non-Functioning Locks on Doors and Windows

Your safety isn’t negotiable.

Test your front door deadbolt, it should slide smoothly
Check every window lock with a firm test
Don’t skip bedroom door locks if you’re sharing with roommates
Get any issues fixed BEFORE you sign anything

Quality landlords address security concerns immediately. If they don’t, that tells you how they’ll handle future problems.

3. Flickering Lights or Dead Outlets

Electrical issues are dangerous and expensive.

Flip every light switch on and off
Bring your phone charger and test multiple outlets
Ask when the electrical system was last inspected
If more than two outlets don’t work, that’s a red flag pattern

Faulty wiring repairs can hit you with $1,500+ in charges if the landlord claims tenant damage at move-out.

4. Visible Mold Growth in Bathrooms or Kitchens

That black stuff around shower tiles is a dealbreaker.

Check bathroom corners and underneath sinks
Peek behind shower curtains
Look under kitchen pipes and around windows
Watch for bubbly or chipping paint, that’s often mold hiding underneath

Your health isn’t worth saving $50 a month on rent.

5. Strong Musty or Chemical Odors

Your nose never lies. Musty smells signal water damage; chemical smells mean landlords are covering something up.

Take a deep breath when you first walk in
Press down on carpet near windows, feel dampness?
Open windows and check how air moves through the space
Don’t fall for heavy air freshener use

Weird odors don’t magically vanish after move-in day.

6. Cracked or Broken Windows

Damaged windows wreck your heating bills during Boulder’s brutal winters.

Check every window for chips, cracks, and stress fractures
Open them and test how they move
Look closely at frames and corners

Get repair commitments documented in your lease before signing. Don’t fall for “we’ll fix that next week” promises.

7. Inadequate Heating or AC

Test the system yourself, don’t trust a quick walkthrough.

Crank the thermostat up, then drop it down
Feel if air actually flows through vents
Run the system for at least five minutes
Ask what heating system the place uses

Electric baseboard heaters can hit $150-200 monthly in winter. That’s money that could go toward lift tickets instead.

8. Pest Droppings or Rodent Signs

Scout for unwanted roommates you can’t kick out.

Check all cabinet corners under sinks
Look for dark droppings along baseboards
Use your phone flashlight in closet corners
Walk the building’s exterior, nests near dumpsters mean pests inside too

With Boulder rent prices already maxing your budget, pest problems become expensive nightmares fast.

9. Damaged or Warped Flooring

Water damage hides under your feet.

Walk slowly and press down on any sketchy spots
Look for warped baseboards pulling away from walls
Check for loose or wobbly tile
Peek under any strategically placed area rugs

Water damage turns into mold within days. Plus you’ll lose your deposit fighting over pre-existing problems.

10. Unclear Lease Terms About Maintenance

Vague language protects landlords, not first-time renters.

Watch for unclear appliance warranties
Ask who pays for repairs under certain dollar amounts
Get exact definitions of “normal wear and tear”
Push back on “tenant may be responsible” language

If the lease isn’t crystal clear, you’ll pay for it later.

11. Pressure to Sign Immediately

“Sign today or lose it” is a massive red flag.

You deserve at least 24 hours to review any lease
Take it home, read every page, loop in parents or CU’s legal aid
Legitimate landlords don’t need pressure tactics

When someone’s pushing you to sign without reading, they’re usually hiding sketchy clauses about deposits, maintenance, or subletting.

12. Poor Cell Reception or No Internet

Boulder’s mountain terrain creates serious dead zones.

Check signal strength in every room during your tour
Make an actual phone call and walk around
Ask which internet provider services the building
Request speed test screenshots from current residents

No reliable connection means no lease signature. Period.

13. Excessive Noise During Daytime

You can’t control when neighbors blast music or traffic peaks.

Visit during peak midday hours
Sit near windows for at least five minutes
Traffic near Broadway or 28th Street stays loud all day
Ask current tenants about noise levels

If it’s disruptively loud at 2 PM on a Tuesday, kiss your study schedule goodbye.

14. Missing Fire Safety Equipment

Fire safety isn’t something to compromise on.

Press the smoke detector button yourself, make sure it works
Check for fire extinguishers in the kitchen and near exits
Look for emergency lighting in hallways and stairwells
Ask when detectors were last inspected

No working smoke detectors = no lease signature.

15. Unclear Move-Out and Deposit Policies

Vague policies become expensive surprises.

Get the security deposit return timeline upfront (Colorado law requires 30 days)
Ask for specific cleaning fee amounts now
Request their move-out inspection checklist
Get direct contact info for whoever handles deposits

If they can’t clearly explain their deposit policy, keep looking.

16. No Documentation of Existing Damage

Without photos, you’re handing over your security deposit.

Photograph every scratch, stain, and scuff on move-in day
Get close-ups of nail holes, floor scratches, carpet stains, wall marks
Shoot a timestamped video walkthrough
Email everything to your landlord immediately

This 30-minute investment could save you hundreds at move-out.

17. Landlord Won’t Provide Tenant References

When a landlord won’t let you talk to current tenants, that’s a massive red flag.

Ask directly: “Can I get contact info for someone who lives here?”
Watch their reaction, dodging this question tells you everything
Current tenants will spill the real tea about maintenance response and deposit returns

No tenant references available? That lease isn’t worth your signature.

Bottom Line

Boulder’s rental market is competitive, but don’t let that pressure you into accepting a sketchy place. Use this checklist on every tour, document everything, and trust your gut. The right apartment will wait 24 hours for a responsible tenant who actually reads contracts.

Your future self will thank you.