What most naturally follows?

How to negotiate price when renting an apartment
Start the process early.
The earlier you begin conducting research, the more time you will have to negotiate the deal you want.
Waiting until your current lease is about to expire and you have to move immediately does not provide you with adequate time to research, plan, and negotiate.
Leaving things until the last minute will also make the process more stressful. Prepare early so that you are negotiating from a position of strength.