Do's and Don'ts of Living in Apartment

Dos and Don'ts of Living in Apartment

Living in an apartment is enjoyable and interesting but sometimes unexpected problems occur. Moving to your first apartment is quite intimidating to some. You can avoid problems to happen if you pay your rent on time and avoid things that will give problems to your landlord. There are a few important things that you need to consider to have a comfortable place to stay. Here are some do's and don'ts that a first-time renter can consider.

Do:

Pay your rent on time. It will not only impress your landlord but will give you good credit ratings. If you think that there is a chance to pay your rent late, advise your landlord right away. Sometimes paying your rent late frequently may lead to eviction.

Clear communications. Communication is always important to both tenants and landlords, particularly when it comes to paying rent. Ensure that you are always aware of when your rent is due. Whatever problems come along, always coordinate with your landlord.

Pay your rent upfront if possible. Paying your rent upfront is one of the best ways to get your own place right away, especially if you are having a hard time looking for a landlord who is willing to rent to your apartment unit.

Know your budget. Since this is the first time renting your own place, it is better to know how much space you need and how much you can afford. Remember to talk to your prospective landlord and see how much is the security deposit and what are the other fees that you may need to pay.   

Read your Lease. Remember that lease is a legal agreement between landlord and tenant that is why it is very important that you read and understand everything that you are agreeing to before you sign a lease.

Don’t:

Don’t ignore to report any maintenance issue. Any issues must be reported right away to your landlord or property manager. The longer the maintenance issue lingers, the worst it would cause damage. If your landlord discovers damage that you failed to report while you are living in the unit, there is a possibility you might find yourself in the middle of a problem.

Don’t be a bad neighbor.  Building a good relationship not only to your landlord or a property manager but as well as with your neighbors is a great attitude example towards others. Be considerate of noise inside your apartment. This is a common complaint that landlords get from their tenants.  

Break your lease early. Thoroughly read your lease before you sign and know what the possible consequence you might face if in case things like this might happen in the future. Your landlord might give an option to terminate the lease early, but there is a possibility that it will incur high fees or lose your security deposit.