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Make sure you have everything you need in writing. Verbal agreements are quickly forgotten after you sign the piece of paper.
If you are unsure of the area, make sure to check the crime statistics, and as Maleficent stated, visit during various times of the day/night. A couple of hours can make a world of difference in how a place can appear.
Make sure you know in advance what needs to be done if you need to (hopefully not) break the lease. Everyone goes in with intentions of staying the lease terms, but things can come up that can make you want/have to break the lease for whatever reason.
As is stated before, inspect like crazy. If they don't provide one, make sure you have a way to provide a list of defective items when you move in. Most places require you submit a list within a few days of moving in....make sure to do so b/c otherwise they will assume everything is fine.
Keep copies of all correspondence with the landlord. If needed, send items through certified mail. I once had a crappy landlord that was hard to reach. I made sure to send items certified, so if I ever had to go to court, I had proof that they had not responded.
Pay attention to the lease renewal date. Most places are 1 year, but different places actually have different lengths based on their "rental seasons." Most times you need to respond at least 30 days before the lease expires to say you want out of yor apartment. If you don't repsond, they might assume you want to stay.
Take some time, and a little money, and buy a book on renters rights. There are a lot of items that most 1st timers would not know. I used one of these books to "fight" with a crappy landlord.
Get Renters Insurance. It is usually rather cheap for a decent amount of coverage.
The most important thing I can say is to take your time when you go to sign any documents & inspect your place. Let no question go unanswered, and don't assume anything.
Good luck!
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