How to sublet your apartment

Subletting your apartment - particularly in a major city - is quite easy.  In most big and medium size cities in the U.S., you can start by posting an ad on Craigslist. 

1.) Post an ad on listings site

• Tips:
• Checkout Craigslist (or other relevant sites) to see how much other apartments in your area are being rented for so you don't price yourself out
  
• Be descriptive in your posting -- include intersection, access to public transportation/parking, name local restaurants, sights, hotspots
• Include pictures in your posting
  
• Note any flexibility in your dates of availability (e.g. can you leave earlier, return any later?)

2.) Email friends and associates to tell them that you are looking to sublet your apartment and ask them to forward around

3.) Find out some background information on the person(s) who are looking to sublet

• Tips: Understand why the person is looking to sublet an apartment -- are they just moving to the city? are they between apartments? are they traveling from out of town? 

4.) Schedule appointments/open houses for people to come see the apartment, and for you to meet them

5.) Create a sublease agreement for the person to sign -- particularly if you do not know this person

• Tips:
  
• A sublease agreement creates a contract between you and the other party and sets out an obligation for them to pay you
• The sublease agreement can adapted to your particular situation
• include any restrictions (e.g. no smoking, no pets), how/when you want to get paid (e.g. cash only, money order, paypal), what to do in the case of damages (e.g. a refundable security deposit)
  

6.) Arrange for a trusted friend/relative to drop-off/pick-up the key from the subleasee 

7.) Relax, and enjoy the extra money for your apartment.