So, you've found an appropriate apartment or house, and you are all set to sign the lease. Not so fast! Once you sign a lease you obligate yourself to make the rental payments for the period of the lease, usually one year. So, let's say the rent is $1,000 per month. Whenever you sign a lease, you're obligating yourself to pay the owner $12,000! You won't have to stay in the house or apartment, if you do not like it. But you will absolutely have to pay the lease. There's no getting out of it. So, it's good to be certain this is a property you intend to dwell in for the lease period.
The first thing you should do is to inspect the property or home carefully. Should you not know much about building, then you definitely should get a friend, or the friend of a friend, to check out the home for you. You want a record of what doesn't work, and what shape things are in. It's easy in this digital age to take pictures. So, why not get a camera, or even your cellular telephone, and take pictures of the whole place? Because of this as soon as the lease is up and you are all set to move, you can easily show the owner that you weren't the reason for the dent in the side of the stove.
Another thing you need to be conscious of is the number and thickness of common walls. Common walls are the ones that separate you from additional tenants in the building. The more common walls there are, the easier it will be to hear the guys or gals next door. Common walls are often thinner and transmit more sound in older buildings, so be especially alert to that.
Ensure that you understand how the amenities of the house or property are used. If it's a quadruplex, for instance, be sure that you know who has the rights to the garage, if any, and the yard. Also, exactly what is the deal with the laundry? If this is a more recent, more pricey building, then how about the gym and concierge services? Do they come included, or do you have to pay more?
Always you need to know if you can shoulder the rent! The scariest thing is to find a great place and then arrive at hating it in the few months since the rent is killing you. A common percentage is no more than 30% of your take home pay. That's your hard earned money after taxes. If the rent is a little too steep, ask the landlord if they'll lower it, especially if you take on some of the responsibilities around the property-say, mowing the yard, clearing up, doing repair work, showing the area to prospective tenants, etc.
The first thing you should do is to inspect the property or home carefully. Should you not know much about building, then you definitely should get a friend, or the friend of a friend, to check out the home for you. You want a record of what doesn't work, and what shape things are in. It's easy in this digital age to take pictures. So, why not get a camera, or even your cellular telephone, and take pictures of the whole place? Because of this as soon as the lease is up and you are all set to move, you can easily show the owner that you weren't the reason for the dent in the side of the stove.
Another thing you need to be conscious of is the number and thickness of common walls. Common walls are the ones that separate you from additional tenants in the building. The more common walls there are, the easier it will be to hear the guys or gals next door. Common walls are often thinner and transmit more sound in older buildings, so be especially alert to that.
Ensure that you understand how the amenities of the house or property are used. If it's a quadruplex, for instance, be sure that you know who has the rights to the garage, if any, and the yard. Also, exactly what is the deal with the laundry? If this is a more recent, more pricey building, then how about the gym and concierge services? Do they come included, or do you have to pay more?
Always you need to know if you can shoulder the rent! The scariest thing is to find a great place and then arrive at hating it in the few months since the rent is killing you. A common percentage is no more than 30% of your take home pay. That's your hard earned money after taxes. If the rent is a little too steep, ask the landlord if they'll lower it, especially if you take on some of the responsibilities around the property-say, mowing the yard, clearing up, doing repair work, showing the area to prospective tenants, etc.
About the Author:
Lee Cole has been involved in real estate since the 80's, both in sales and rentals. Check out these informative sites for more information about Gwinnett property management and Duluth homes for rent
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