Other Apartment Rental Fees: Why Pay a Rental Application Fee?

When you have visited so many properties, those application fees can add up quickly!  This is why it is better to order your credit report in advance and know what it has on it.  Clear up any discrepancies and then place an application only with the property you like the most.  All others are best left on the “just in case” list.  Basically, you are putting those properties aside if you can’t for some reason qualify for the one you like the most.

Most properties require a set amount of money to be earned each month in order to income qualify.  Usually you know whether you will meet qualifications or not without paying an app fee simply by asking for and reading the rental criteria at each property.  Once you are ready to fill out a rental application at your favorite place, then you pay the app fee not just for yourself, but anyone staying with you over the age of 18.  Occupants will also need a credit and criminal background check as well.

When you have visited so many properties, those application fees can add up quickly!  This is why it is better to order your credit report in advance and know what it has on it.  Clear up any discrepancies and then place an application only with the property you like the most.  All others are best left on the “just in case” list.  Basically, you are putting those properties aside if you can’t for some reason qualify for the one you like the most.

Most properties require a set amount of money to be earned each month in order to income qualify.  Usually you know whether you will meet qualifications or not without paying an app fee simply by asking for and reading the rental criteria at each property.  Once you are ready to fill out a rental application at your favorite place, then you pay the app fee not just for yourself, but anyone staying with you over the age of 18.  Occupants will also need a credit and criminal background check as well.

The fee is usually paid via money order or cashier check if there is no debit or credit card reader on site.  Checks are usually not accepted since it takes awhile for them to clear. Cash is typically not accepted due to security reasons.

The rental application fee is used to cover the costs of the credit report and background check.  If most of the information comes back positive, you are approved and then any additional fees owed will be calculated.  If there are no rental specials, those fees might include:

Administrative Fee

Security Deposit

Prorated Rent (if you are moving during the middle of the month)

1st Month Rent

All are due upon move-in.  Other fees renters will incur over the duration of the lease may include:

Water, Sewer and Trash

Electricity and Gas

The lease should list all of what the renter pays for.

As you see the application fee is the start of other fees ahead.  However, it is very important to pay this fee if one wants to be considered for an apartment.  You can always ask if this fee could be waived.  The fee is usually paid via money order or cashier check if there is no debit or credit card reader on site.  Checks are usually not accepted since it takes awhile for them to clear. Cash is typically not accepted due to security reasons.

Happy Apartment Shopping!

Nicholl McGuire is the owner of this blog and author of What Else Can I Do on the Internet?

Renting a place: how much can you afford?

Your Miserly, Mooching Roommate: Know When to End the Lease

Good roommates are hard to find.  When you have one, you stick it out, make it work!  But when you are finding yourself increasingly stressed just being in that person’s presence it’s time to reconsider renewing the lease with a mooch.

A mooch is someone who begs, borrows, and steals things that doesn’t belong to him or her.  A person like this is also miserly, selfish, and may even have his or her share of personality disorders.  With a roommate like this, you are often stressed, worried that the mooch will once again help his or herself to your stuff, and when disputes do occur you are angrier than most people having similar arguments.  You are simply tired of having to instruct this selfish person, watch his or her hands, hide your items, question about missing things, ask for money borrowed back, and more. 

The stingy mooch systematically does things to avoid paying for items while cutting down on current expenses he or she may have once agreed to pay but doesn’t like or want to continue to pay.  The excuses are endless as to why certain things are not bought or maintained.  Here is a list of some shady practices many selfish roommates do:

1)  They lie about how much they paid for something while hoping you don’t use too much of it.

2)  They cut costs most often without warning and you find out the hard way that they are no longer paying for certain services.

3)  They sit back and wait for others to pay for items and then they will begin to use them.

4)  They will make false claims about not having any money to assist with expenses especially those that they don’t believe are important.

5)  They will make small purchases that solely benefit them.

6)  They will act as if what minute contributions they make to the household are worth acknowledging and when one doesn’t, they behave immaturely even vengeful.

7)  They won’t financially assist when the going gets rough and will ignore your please for help.

Miserly roommates’ objective is to find various ways to use your money for as long as they can while they pocket the majority of theirs.  When you notice that you are being taken advantage of and you speak to your roommate about it, he or she will not appreciate your feedback.  This is when he or she will start to behave abusively.  Some things that they will do to financially abuse you:

1)  Steal your financial information.

2)  If you should lose your job, he or she will act very mean and controlling while reminding you that they “…paid for this…or that...”

3)  He or she will name-call and tell you how you are “Stupid, irresponsible, ignorant…when it comes to making/saving money.  No wonder you are always broke!”

4)  He or she will buy enjoyable items for self and purposely leave you out.

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

5)  You will notice that most purchases are small inside and are not meant to be shared with others.

I have come across my share of cheap roommates who didn’t appreciate having to pay the majority of the bills.  However, I didn’t make no where near what they did so what sense did it make to take care of all expenses?  The twisted mindset of selfish people with personality disorders is a “Do for me…”  When they can’t accomplish using you in the way that they would like, this is when  they resort to abusing you.

If you have a history with a roommate that has included any of the following: threatening behaviors, hitting, kicking, breaking up your belongings, stealing your identity or credit cards, do not plan to sign a future lease with him or her.  Make plans to move on without this not only financially abusive person, but physically abusive as well.

Nicholl McGuire

10 Tips on Tidying Up Apartment for Inspection

Most apartment communities have an annual apartment inspection.  During this time it is important to be sure that you are following the terms of your lease agreement.  Otherwise, you might find your self having to pay for current damages, later lose your security deposit or worse sued or evicted.  So be sure you take a look at your lease prior to the inspection and make adjustments where necessary.

1) Carpet Cleaning

It isn’t a big deal to have your carpet cleaned prior to an inspection unless it is hideous and smells foul due to pets.  Some property management companies might offer carpet cleaning to residents who renew their leases earlier.  Do ask what specials are provided if you plan to stay another year.

2) Window Treatments

If the curtains are uniform with the outer appearance and/or blinds that were already installed in the apartment prior to move-in have not been removed typically there is nothing to be concerned about.  However, if the lease agreement says anything about the window treatments staying up or they must be uniform, you might want to put them back up prior to the inspection.

Photo by Mike Marquez on Unsplash

3) Housekeeping

The apartment will be checked to see that it is clean which includes no visible signs that insects are living with you.  However, if they are you should be calling the leasing office before the inspection so that pest control can come out and take care of the problem.  Cleaning might include: dusting, vacuuming, hanging up clothes, picking up belongings from the middle of the floor, mopping floors, cleaning toilets and sinks, and removing trash.

4) Paint and Other Personal Handy Work

It isn’t necessary to paint anything, but if there were unapproved paint jobs, murals, or challenging handy work that involved major changes to the place, this will be a problem for the staff to sell the suite in the future since it doesn’t look like the others.  Be prepared to pay much to have the suite renovated back to the way it originally looked no matter how much you disliked it prior to your “improvements.”  The leasing staff has to sell a suite based on what is being advertised to the public.  Anything else would be a lie.  If the changes aren’t drastic, you might get the pass, but don’t make any additional personal improvements.  

5) Pet Violations

The apartment will be inspected to be sure you are following pet rules like taking the animal out to perform general activities.  Believe it or not, some pet owners do not consistently take their pets out so they are left to roam within the apartment to expel waste.  This of course causes damage to the flooring as well as creates an offensive odor to all who live near the inconsiderate resident.  Another issue is the resident complaints that a neighbor suddenly has a pet that may also be breaking the breed restriction rules.  If a resident didn’t pay a pet security deposit and is not paying monthly rent for the pet, he or she is violating the lease agreement.  The resident will be asked to remove the pet or pay the fees; if not he or she most likely will be faced with an eviction.

6) Hoarding

The staff will make a note of an excess of items that might pose a potential health risk.  From clothes to people, if the space is crowded you will be asked to rent a bigger space.

7) Hazardous Materials or Equipment

Your apartment is not the best place to store flammable liquids from work or materials that are a disturbance to neighbors.  Chances are someone complained about what is happening in your apartment whether it is a smell, strange sounds, or something that is affecting one’s well-being.  The hunt is on to look for the problem belongings and when found you will be told to store them elsewhere.

8) Damages to Walls, Windows, Doors, or Appliances.

The staff will be checking for anything that should have been reported.  Arrangements will be made to have those items fixed if the resident makes the request.  Anything that the security deposit doesn’t cover will be billed to the resident and expected to be paid along with the rent.

9) Water, Gas and Heat

If all is working properly, nothing to be concerned about, but if not request that maintenance take a look prior to the inspection.

10) Electrical outlets

They will probably not be checked unless you bring attention to what is working and what is not.

Other items that might be noticed are non-working faucets, holes in floors, broken shelves, and doorknobs.  If they aren’t observed, once again let the staff know especially if these things had never been checked or fixed after you moved in.

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

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.