When people seek rental properties, they tend to do some things that will only cause them headaches in the future or worse jail time. Think before you make a move that might cost you much legal, financial and emotional trouble.
One. They lie on applications.
Future renters get off to a poor start with management when it is discovered they have lied about things like income, criminal history, who will be living in the home, debt, and more. It is better to tell the truth and be rejected then to one day be faced with an eviction notice that most likely will damage your credit history.
Two. They sublet even when they are warned not to.
Renters put themselves at risk once again of being removed from their suite when they say they are living at the home, but not really. Therefore, a relative or friend can leave the apartment at anytime while putting the renter's good name in jeopardy.
Three. They bring insects with them.
Knowing that one has had a serious insect problem in the last home, why would they take a chance on bringing all the infestation with them to their new home? But people do. It is always best to spray or use an insect bomb repellent on your items before moving them. Check for nests that might live inside your furniture, electronics and elsewhere when you know you have a problem.
Four. They expect the leasing office staff to do everything for them.
From wanting a date from the pretty blond seated at the desk to asking staff to handle their personal business and errand running, these are things that shouldn't be requested from the leasing staff. Their jobs are to get renters into a suite and help them maintain it, but not handle their personal business. Avoid the temptation to get the busy staff involved in your affairs.
Five. They tell shady acquaintances where they are thinking about living.
Some renters are moving because they are having trouble with certain individuals from the last place or hope to cut off ties with others. Yet, they will keep in contact with these troubled characters and then tell them where they stay. When problems begin to show up, they act as if they didn't know someone behaved like this or that. If you know or suspect that someone is annoying, troubled and the like, don't invite them to your new place.
Six. They destroy their old apartment and then share this information with management.
Management isn't asking you why you are looking for a place or what happened at the last place to cause you to want to move for nothing. They are looking for prospects to reveal what they did or didn't do at the last place. So when someone says something like, "I was so angry one day I punched a hole in the wall, but I paid for it though...Then I got mad at my lady and broke the door handle--you know those handles are cheap anyway." What this person is really telling the leasing consultant, "I'm a hot-head and I might be trouble for your company and my neighbors."
Seven. They anger others by doing things that might put them at risk of losing their apartment.
Neighbors don't mind complaining about people who play loud music, have unruly children, and have far too many parties and traffic coming and going out of their homes. When this happens, the leasing staff will most likely tally up the complaints and work to get the nuisance neighbor off the premises--don't let that be you!
Think about these seven tips. Make adjustments to your current living arrangement as needed. Then prepare to sit down with the leasing staff worry free. Be sure that you are making every effort to be an ideal candidate. Good suites come and go and if you see one you really like, you want to be the renter that stands out above all the rest! You might want to get a few reference letters to take along with you in the future just in case you see a suite you got to have.
Nicholl McGuire also maintains a blog for people who are in intimate relationships or dating. See here.
Wednesday
When Shopping for a Rental Property What Might You Bring?
1. Driver's license, state id or other documentation if you live overseas. If address is not current on your identification, then bring a bank statement or utility bill that shows your current address.
2. At least enough money to cover an application fee and a deposit to hold the suite or security deposit if you plan to move in right away.
3. Pay stubs for at least the past three or four months. If you have yet to receive payment from your employer, bring a job offer letter that includes the amount of money you will be paid.
4. Utility bill or other documents that show you are current on bills and paid off/settled debts ie.) bankruptcy discharge. Sometimes conducting a background check will reveal that a potential renter has past issues that might hinder him or her from renting.
It helps to call the company you are interested in renting from to see if there is anything else you might need in case you decide to do business.
2. At least enough money to cover an application fee and a deposit to hold the suite or security deposit if you plan to move in right away.
3. Pay stubs for at least the past three or four months. If you have yet to receive payment from your employer, bring a job offer letter that includes the amount of money you will be paid.
4. Utility bill or other documents that show you are current on bills and paid off/settled debts ie.) bankruptcy discharge. Sometimes conducting a background check will reveal that a potential renter has past issues that might hinder him or her from renting.
It helps to call the company you are interested in renting from to see if there is anything else you might need in case you decide to do business.
What You Don't Want to Do When You Find a Place
Just a friendly reminder to readers of this site...
When it comes to landing that place you like, don't do anything that is going to result in a future headache for you and those you love.
One. Don't make yourself believe that there is no other rental place out there for you and you know you haven't looked for that long.
Sometimes the first few apartment or rental homes that you see are great, but these beauties might cause unnecessary issues for you and those you love later. Consider the following: these dwellings are out of your league--you are short of cash, you have to come up with far too many ways to meet the security deposit plus first month's rent and utilities, the home is too far away from the job, and the property is available sooner than you have planned and your current lease isn't up yet. All these issues and more aren't worth going through when you have plenty of time to keep looking.
Two. Avoid the temptation to persuade your partner, roommates or others who will be staying with you to take the place.
If you see that your family or friends are really not sold on the rental, don't make them accept it. You will find out the hard way how much of a burden the place might be for them especially if they have repeatedly told you, "I don't like all the trees in the back yard...The neighborhood is scary...Those neighbors are strange...These rooms are too small! What's that strange smell? I don't like this house!"
Three. Hold off on signing anything.
Until you are one hundred percent sure of the lease, property, and other things, don't sign anything! You will not want to face a potential lawsuit later if you sign the lease and then decide not to pay.
Four. Tell only a select few about your new location or wait until after you have had some time to get adjusted to your place.
Unfortunately, not everyone is excited when something good happens to someone. You may have visitors who are very critical and try to convince you to find something else after you have settled on what you really like. Exes who have unresolved issues may drop by unannounced, angry relatives or bitter friends might be a nuisance to the community, and your family may not want guests when they are still organizing. So avoid sharing your good news with everyone.
Five. Keep away from your neighbor's wife/husband, property, parking space, and anything else that doesn't belong to you.
One of the worse things that a new resident can do to make his or her stay awful is to start acting too friendly toward a married couple especially if they aren't interested in friendship. You can also rouse neighbors if you like to borrow things, play your music loud, and permit your children to run through through the property. Don't rub your neighbors the wrong way by being too forward, too trusting or too noisey.
Six. Never assume that the leasing office has handled everything.
Follow up with everyone and everything from what you saw in the rental dwelling during your tour to your pool pass. Ask about anything that concerns you and don't think that because someone said, "I'll take care of it." that it was done prior to your move-in date.
To your success finding an apartment home that is right for you!
Nicholl McGuire
When it comes to landing that place you like, don't do anything that is going to result in a future headache for you and those you love.
One. Don't make yourself believe that there is no other rental place out there for you and you know you haven't looked for that long.
Sometimes the first few apartment or rental homes that you see are great, but these beauties might cause unnecessary issues for you and those you love later. Consider the following: these dwellings are out of your league--you are short of cash, you have to come up with far too many ways to meet the security deposit plus first month's rent and utilities, the home is too far away from the job, and the property is available sooner than you have planned and your current lease isn't up yet. All these issues and more aren't worth going through when you have plenty of time to keep looking.
Two. Avoid the temptation to persuade your partner, roommates or others who will be staying with you to take the place.
If you see that your family or friends are really not sold on the rental, don't make them accept it. You will find out the hard way how much of a burden the place might be for them especially if they have repeatedly told you, "I don't like all the trees in the back yard...The neighborhood is scary...Those neighbors are strange...These rooms are too small! What's that strange smell? I don't like this house!"
Three. Hold off on signing anything.
Until you are one hundred percent sure of the lease, property, and other things, don't sign anything! You will not want to face a potential lawsuit later if you sign the lease and then decide not to pay.
Four. Tell only a select few about your new location or wait until after you have had some time to get adjusted to your place.
Unfortunately, not everyone is excited when something good happens to someone. You may have visitors who are very critical and try to convince you to find something else after you have settled on what you really like. Exes who have unresolved issues may drop by unannounced, angry relatives or bitter friends might be a nuisance to the community, and your family may not want guests when they are still organizing. So avoid sharing your good news with everyone.
Five. Keep away from your neighbor's wife/husband, property, parking space, and anything else that doesn't belong to you.
One of the worse things that a new resident can do to make his or her stay awful is to start acting too friendly toward a married couple especially if they aren't interested in friendship. You can also rouse neighbors if you like to borrow things, play your music loud, and permit your children to run through through the property. Don't rub your neighbors the wrong way by being too forward, too trusting or too noisey.
Six. Never assume that the leasing office has handled everything.
Follow up with everyone and everything from what you saw in the rental dwelling during your tour to your pool pass. Ask about anything that concerns you and don't think that because someone said, "I'll take care of it." that it was done prior to your move-in date.
To your success finding an apartment home that is right for you!
Nicholl McGuire
Friday
Start Planning Your Next Move this Spring Season
So the winter season is about over and you're not happy with your current rental dwelling. Well then it is time to start envisioning yourself in a new environment this time next year!
Sometimes we think we made wise choices when selecting a new place to live, but we later learn, usually soon after moving, why the last residents moved out and why the rental unit or home went empty for so long. "Was it a leaky roof? Inadequate heating or cooling? Was the neighbor keeping up a fuss?" we think. Then the problems show up.
Begin listing all the issues you have been having with your current place and what has yet to be addressed. This way when you meet with management when you are ready to give your 30 day notice, he or she will be aware. Do note dates and times you brought issues to managment and how long it took before your concern was addressed. This information will come in handy in case you ever have a legal issue regarding your security deposit refund.
Next, you will want to start planning to spend less and start saving monies toward your next apartment home. What do you think you can afford? An application fee will most likely be expected. First and possibly second month's rent will be required depending on credit history. You will also be expected to put a small amount of money to hold the apartment in some cases. That money is typically put toward your move-in balance.
Take a look around your place. How much room do you think you will need? Then go outdoors, walk the property and the neighborhood. What do you want nearby your next home and what don't you want? Imagine what would make you most happy then pursue it by checking out guides, classfied ads, and blogs about rental locations in your area. You will also want to check with a property management agency to see what rentals will be available soon.
Don't expect leasing consultants and managers to be your friends while you apartment shop. Remember, they want to sell you a suite and meet management goals. So be sure you know what you need, what you can afford, and whatever else that will make you happy!
Nicholl McGuire maintains this blog and others, check out this one Work Place Problems
Sometimes we think we made wise choices when selecting a new place to live, but we later learn, usually soon after moving, why the last residents moved out and why the rental unit or home went empty for so long. "Was it a leaky roof? Inadequate heating or cooling? Was the neighbor keeping up a fuss?" we think. Then the problems show up.
Begin listing all the issues you have been having with your current place and what has yet to be addressed. This way when you meet with management when you are ready to give your 30 day notice, he or she will be aware. Do note dates and times you brought issues to managment and how long it took before your concern was addressed. This information will come in handy in case you ever have a legal issue regarding your security deposit refund.
Next, you will want to start planning to spend less and start saving monies toward your next apartment home. What do you think you can afford? An application fee will most likely be expected. First and possibly second month's rent will be required depending on credit history. You will also be expected to put a small amount of money to hold the apartment in some cases. That money is typically put toward your move-in balance.
Take a look around your place. How much room do you think you will need? Then go outdoors, walk the property and the neighborhood. What do you want nearby your next home and what don't you want? Imagine what would make you most happy then pursue it by checking out guides, classfied ads, and blogs about rental locations in your area. You will also want to check with a property management agency to see what rentals will be available soon.
Don't expect leasing consultants and managers to be your friends while you apartment shop. Remember, they want to sell you a suite and meet management goals. So be sure you know what you need, what you can afford, and whatever else that will make you happy!
Nicholl McGuire maintains this blog and others, check out this one Work Place Problems
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