There are tons of great apartments in Chicago, but many renters find it very difficult to select the right one for them, their spouse, their roommates, their family or whoever else might be living with them. From Rogers Park apartment rentals on the North side of the city to Pilsen apartment rentals on the south side of the city, the vast assortment of options is mind-blowing. And for those moving to Chicago area for the first time, relocating for a job or renting after being out of the market for a long time, the process can be a bit tricky ? but it doesn't have to be.

The first thing that renters must consider when they are searching for apartments in Chicago is what they can afford to pay. For those who have been out of the market for a while it can be difficult to guess what the going rate is. It may be a pleasant surprise, or it may be an unpleasant shock that requires some reprioritizing. With a budget in mind, though, it's possible to move on to the next step of determining what the deal breakers are. These are things like wheelchair access, an extra room for an office, access to good schools, close proximity to work and other things that the renter deems to be must-haves.

After determining a budget and figuring out what the deal breakers are, it's a good time to start figuring out what other amenities would be nice to have to help choose from the remaining available apartments. These might be things like a swimming pool, playground for the kids, security patrols to keep the vandals and thieves away, extra storage, a dishwasher, washer and dryer hookups in the apartment, vaulted ceilings, or a fitness center to work out in.

Chances are that the budget and deal breakers will eliminate many of the available apartments in Chicago at any given time, and once that has been sorted out it comes down to the one with the most extras. Then it just comes down to applying to the best ones?