6 Things to Do Before You Agree to Rent

1)  Walk the apartment that you will be staying in.

Look for things like mold, mildew, dead insects, mouse droppings, and soft spots on the flooring and walls.  Turn knobs, pull out drawers, and open doors.  By doing these things you will know if housekeeping, maintenance, and pest control are on top of their jobs.  If they can’t get a vacant right, then imagine what it would be like if a problem arises while you are living there.

2)  Be sure you are renting the apartment that you saw (not the model).

Sometimes what you see isn’t always what you get.  So if you toured a vacant apartment, be sure that is the one that you get.

Photo by Hans Eiskonen on Unsplash

3)  Note any unsightly appearances and problems with appliances prior to move in.

Be sure all issues are dealt with prior to move-in.  If you don’t, those problems might not be addressed during your stay.  Document your findings and send to the property manager and/or create a work order online if that service is offered.

4)  Review lease slowly and be certain that everything is correct especially the monthly dollar amount.

Never sign without going over pricing in detail otherwise you are legally bound to the contracted amount for the duration of the lease.

5)  Walk the property during the weekend and at night.

Find out what apartments are coming available then walk by them during the evening and night.  You are listening for noise, checking for litter, and noticing odd smells.  Chances are the former residents may have moved due to neighbors, but maybe not. If you can’t immediately view the apartment, this is the least you should do until the apartment becomes available.

6)  Check to be certain all amenities illustrated are included.

Unfortunately, some companies claim to have enjoyable amenities available to all, but upon move-in you realize that some amenities are being worked on or altogether removed.  You also discover some fees you may not have noticed during lease signing.  Know whether the amenities still exist or not and if there are related charges by doing the following:  walking the community and checking them out for yourself, ask residents whether they work, find out if residents are paying a fee to use, and check review sites looking for any unfavorable report about the amenities.

You can never be too sure about whether an apartment community is right for you so do your due diligence!  Hopefully, the staff is transparent with you and others from that first encounter, but if you should discover they are not, move on!

Nicholl McGuire is the author of What Else Can I Do on the Internet? and other books.