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In order to find the right apartment, townhouse, or house to rent, you must be prepared for what to do before you set out to look at homes, what to do during the search, and what to do once you’ve find the right place.
Before you start the search:
1. Create a list of everything and anything you’d like your new home to have. Would you like a dishwasher, hardwood floors, washer and dryer, or pool? Would you prefer an apartment, townhouse, multifamily home, or single family home? It’s a great idea to set priorities on your preferences. Remember to make a distinction between what you want and what you need!2. Always be prepared! Have on hand some important information that your Realtor will need. This includes:
- Credit check.
- Resume/Letter of Recommendation.
- Pay stubs/tax returns.
3. Keep in mind that many landlords will want to verify your work references. Contact your references (including your former landlord) ahead of time so that they know they may receive a call. A great tip to getting a great reference is to ask the person ahead of time, “I’m going to be looking at places to rent and I’m going to need references. If I were to put you as a reference, would you be willing to give me a glowing recommendation?” Remember, if you don’t ask for it, you may not get it!
During the search:
4. It’s best to look at the potential units during the daytime. It’s important to know how much natural light enters a home. It’s also easier to see in what condition the unit is in and whether more work is needed on the unit to make it more habitable.
5. Always do a walk-though of any unit you’re seriously interested in. You’re also going to want to ask about any damage you may see (always do this before you sign the lease!) Make a list of any damage you see and give this to your Realtor. Your Realtor will get the landlord’s intials on the list and will attach this to your lease in order to absolve you of responsibility later. This prevents many headaches down the road!
6. Ask questions! The time to ask is before the lease is signed. Some great questions to ask are:
- How large is the water heater?
- What’s the water pressure like?
- How are the neighbors like?
- Are there shopping malls/supermarkets nearby?
- What is the pet policy?
- What are the utilities that you will be responsible for?
7. Introduce yourself to your potential neighbors! The most important neighbors to meet are the ones that you will share walls with, which are the ones on the same floor and those above and below you. Find out their thoughts on noise, what they like about the area, and most importantly, find out if they’re friendly!
8. Bring a tape measure and a list of your larger furniture’s measurements so you can see how things will fit and what you might need to buy.
9. See a few places that fit your characteristics of a potential place to live so you can have an idea of what your budget generally gets you as a home.
Once you’ve found the right place:
10. Be prepared to ACT QUICKLY when you find something you like and make sure your Realtor knows how much you like the home! A rental that might be on the market one day can be gone the next day! That’s why it is so imperative to act quickly and give your Realtor the initial deposit so that your Realtor can fill out and give the landlord the Memorandum to Lease! The Memorandum to Lease demonstrates your serious intent to rent the property and this generally means the property is held for you until negotiations are over between both Realtors.
11. Take a look at your lease and be sure you understand it. If you have any questions, make sure to ask your Realtor!
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1 response so far ↓
1 Jamie // Oct 26, 2006 at 12:51 pm
A Tenant’s Guide to Renting
The first challenge every tenant faces is finding an apartment for rent that suits their individual needs. For today’s tenant, the most effective apartment search can be done using an online apartment finder. Tenants should decide what they require in an apartment or house rental before beginning their search. For example: the number of bedrooms, location or distance from public transportation and how much the tenant can afford to pay in rent, furnished or unfurnished apartment, etc. By making these important decisions first, tenants can avoid renting an apartment or house only to regret it later. Many tenants today are taking advantage of the convenience of the internet to locate apartments for rent as opposed to the traditional print publications.
Once a possible apartment or home has been found, it is the tenant’s duty to thoroughly inspect the premises making a commitment in the form of a security deposit. A tenant should not rely on the landlord or the landlord’s agent to tell the tenant if anything is wrong with the property. The tenant must inspect the property carefully and ask questions about it.
Inspecting the condition and functionality of the following areas/features of the apartment before committing yourself as a tenant is highly recommended.
1. Kitchen appliances in working order.
2. Water pressure strong, plumbing without leaks.
3. Electrical outlets and wiring working.
4. Walls and ceiling painted or papered without cracks
5. Ventilation or air conditioning accessible.
6. Floors, railings and bathrooms in good repair.
7. Fire escape easy to use.
8. Stairs safe and well-lighted.
9. No rodents or insects.
10. Heating system in working order.
11. If furnished, check and write down condition of all furniture.
12. Windows and doors operable and weather-tight; screens provided.
The tenant should also check the security of the building to find out if there is a dead-bolt lock, security chain, or through-the-door viewer.
BEWARE OF EXISTING DAMAGES: In order to avoid being blamed for damages that already exist in the rental unit, the cautious tenant should take every step for self-protection. Before moving in (or as soon as possible thereafter), the tenant should make a list of all existing damages and repairs that need to be made. A copy of the list should he presented to the landlord and attached to the lease This way the landlord cannot blame the tenant for damages caused by others and the tenant will know what the landlord intends to repair. If the tenant keeps good records the landlord will not be able to keep the tenant’s security deposit for damages that were actually caused by others. Taking pictures before moving in is also strongly recommended.
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