How to Negotiate a Lease Start Date

[Nikki Blake]

My boyfriend and I are looking to rent an apartment with a lease start in mid May in a competitive and expensive market ($2500+ for two bedrooms). We found a floor plan we like, but it is available now. Ideally we would like our lease to start end of May. Any tips on how we can get them to consider letting us start the lease in May? We have the money to pre-pay for a year, but I was reading on here that offering that could come across as shady and that larger management companies won't be drawn to that. Our credit scores are good, boyfriend is in tech and I am in consulting. We haven't applied yet...we want to tour the building first, but just want to get ideas. Thanks for any tips!