Tips for First Time Renters

Tips for First Time Renters

Renting an apartment can be a really exciting experience for the first-time renter. It's an exciting feeling thinking about how you will make your own rental place beautiful and presentable to your visitors, what furniture you can put, or what things to buy to make it attractive and relaxing. The opportunity to decorate your own place is a great feeling and awesome experience for first-time renters.

What you need to know if you are a first-time renter. As a first-time renter, there are things you need to know and consider. Here we will share some important reminders to first-time renters.

• Establish a good relationship with your landlord. Be professional, kind and respectful is a good way to develop a good relationship with your landlord or property manager. And once you develop a good relationship with your property owner, you will for sure get the same treatment in return.
• Check what’s included in the rent. If in case you have a question that is not included in the lease it is better to clear things first to avoid any problem in the future.
• Ask or check if you are allowed to make any modification in the apartment. If ever you are allowed, check to what extent you can make medication without affecting the security deposit. And see if it's written in the lease.

You may consider renter’s insurance, also known as tenant’s insurance. It is property insurance that provides coverage for liabilities, policy holder’s belongings and maybe living expenses in case of a loss events.

You may need a Cosigner's help. A cosigner is the one who agrees and will be responsible to pay the borrower’s debt in case the borrower fails to make a payment. Some first-time renter is students, and there's a possibility that they don't have a good credit history yet to present the property owner. The cosigner doesn’t have to be related to the borrower, as long as the consigner is willing to pay the debt of the borrower.

Check if it’s Safety. It is important to make sure that the apartment you are moving-in is safe. You may try to visit the area in the day time and night to see you if that is the kind of place you think you will be comfortable in staying. Or talk to your landlord or neighbors before you sign-in to your lease.

Check how you can make an easier payment. You may check to your landlord how you can make an easy way to make a payment. As we all know almost everyone is now using an online payment method. This is so convenient, especially to busy working people.

If you are a first-time renter, you should avoid these mistakes:

• Not seeing the apartment before moving in. It is a good idea to check the apartment first; this will help you decide if that is really the place that you want to move-in.
• You may check if everything is working well like, turn on the faucets, turn on the lights, check all doorknobs if it locks, and check all appliances they will allow you to use and see if all is working.
• Check the area. Remember that this apartment is the place you are interested to stay for lots of years. 
• Fail to read the lease. A lease agreement is a legal agreement between the landlord/property manager and tenant. It is really important to read the lease carefully and must understand “everything it states”. The lease agreement will say all your rights and things you need to abide. There might also some fees or penalties that you might have pay. There could also be some restrictions. So remember “not to fail to read everything the lease states” and make sure that you fully agree to everything before signing the lease to avoid misunderstanding and future problem between you and your property owner.
• Not asking about utilities. Before you move-in, make sure to ask your landlord or property manager what utility bills you are responsible to pay. Other landlord requires their tenant to handle everything, which is why it is important to check first who is responsible for paying utility bills.