Not making a mistake when choosing a new house is sometimes difficult. Because experienced owners know how to present their properties in such a way that even the ugliest houses start to look like mansions.
If you can’t afford buying an apartment, your solution is probably to lease. Though moving to a new apartment can be very exciting, finding a good one to rent could be a daunting task.
To help people looking for a home for the first time, I made a list of details that must always be taken into account before signing the contract.
Check the number of plugs
Pay attention to how many plugs the household counts. The plugs must be in each room. Otherwise, soon you would have to entangle the entire house with extensions to use the appliances you need.
Check if the plugs do not have faults. Plug in the microwave and vacuum at the same time. If both devices work, as usual, they can support the load.
Discover if it’s possible to connect Internet & Television
Few people could last a long time in a house without the Internet and television. Find out in advance if it is possible to hire these services at home and that previous tenants do not have debts.
Check for Moisture Spots
The mushrooms at home are very unpleasant. They give rise to bad odors, they look bad and it is very difficult to finish them. At the same time, breathing fungal spores is dangerous to health. Especially in the case of older adults and children.
That’s why you should always check that the house does not have dark spots of fungi. They are usually formed in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and near the windows: in areas with high humidity.
Check your Meters
Many times, the owner does not include the receipts of the services in the rent. This means that you will have to pay these bills additionally. Therefore, verify that the house has all the necessary meters. So, you could control your consumption.
Your Parking Spot
If you have a car, you will surely need a place to park it. If you do not have a garage, investigate if the house has a parking lot next to it. If not, take a tour of the neighborhood and think about where you will leave your vehicle at night: if there are parking lots and if it is not forbidden to park in front of the house without being charged a fine.
Your Window View
It is not about the beautiful sight. You should check if there are no buildings with illuminated signs in front of the house. If you do not pay attention to these details, the lights that come in at night will be a reason for insomnia.
Also, the big roads, dens or bars will not let you sleep well.
Investigate if previous tenants had pets
This rule is current for people who are allergic to pet hairs. If you are in this group, when you move into a new house, you should be sure that cat hairballs do not hide in the cracks of the floor or carpet.
Check your windows and doors carefully
If you do not like the idea of always being worried about your belongings, check if the doors of the house close properly.
It will not hurt to try to open and close the windows. If it turns out that they do not open, you will not be able to ventilate the room and you will suffer on hot days.
Note Down everything in the House
Together with the owner of the house, make a detailed list of the things that are in the house and that you can use. Attach the list to the contract. It is best to write down at once if any of the objects have a defect so that later the owner of the house does not try to blame you for damaging your property.
Find out if the apartment is sold
Many times, the owners omit the fact that the house is for sale. In this case, they are willing to get rid of their tenants as soon as a buyer appears.
Of course, the contract protects you in these cases, the owner would have to pay you in case of canceling the agreement early. But still, the idea of moving quickly to another side will surely not please you at all. So, try to protect yourself from the unpleasant surprises and rent only the homes that are not for sale.
What if something breaks down?
Write down in the contract who would pay if something breaks down at home by accident. Is the owner willing to cover these cats and deduct them from the rent?
If the owner asks you to do some remodeling, you must also assume the costs of the materials.
How often will there be revisions?
Do not forget to ask the owner how often he plans to visit you to check the house. Knowing what state, the house is in is a totally natural desire of the owner. But sometimes the owners cross the limit and subject their tenants to full control.
The only way to protect yourself from the constant stay of the owner in the house is to agree on the number of visits in the contract. Ideally, the owner should check the house with a frequency no greater than once a month and at the agreed time. This visit could be combined with the payment of the rent.
Raise in Rent
Write down in the contract how often and for how much the owner can raise the rent. If you do not, soon the owner can start asking you for exaggerated amounts that you did not count on.
Pay special attention to cleanliness
If you entered a messy and dirty house, do not rush to sign the contract. It is very likely that behind the disorder are hidden even more unpleasant details. You can ask the owner to clean the house before renting it, but also prepare yourself so that you may not want to do it and simply refuse to continue negotiating, claiming that you have many potential tenants lined up.
Therefore, if dirt is the only thing that makes you doubt, do not rush to reject the option. Check the house in detail and decide if you can fix it to make it look good.
October 22, 2018