7 Tips for Finding a Great Rental That You Can Call Home

August 13th, 2014  |  Home Insurance

Finding a great rental is the goal for the overwhelming majority of people looking for an apartment or rental unit. However, this doesn’t always work out in the real world. Not having the right information, getting poor advice, rushing the process, or being misled can all lead to you finding out that you have rented a lemon – And most renters don’t find this out until the rental agreement is signed and the boxes are unpacked.

If you want to find a great rental unit to call home for years to come, you need to know how to find one and what to look for on your search.

These 7 tips will help you find a great rental you can call home:

1. Research everything: Take some time to learn about the rental process (especially if you are a first time renter), the neighborhoods you are considering, and the pros and cons of different types of rental units. Also, if you are thinking about renting a condo or apartment, read up on the corporation or property management company and see if they have a good reputation in the rental community.
2. Start early and have a reasonable timeframe: Start looking for a rental unit as soon as you know that you will be moving. Starting early and giving yourself as much time as possible to look will help you effectively explore your options.
3. Be a rental listing junkie: If you want to find the perfect rental unit, you will need to become a rental listing junkie. Get online, set up email notifications on rental websites, and check out new listings daily. The more on top of it you are, the better chance you will have to find exactly what you are looking for in a rental unit.
4. Get organized right away and be ready to act fast: You need to be as organized as possible – know the amenities you want, how much you are willing to pay, which neighborhoods you want to live in, and start taking the steps to prepare the documentation you will need for your rental application. Then once you find a place you will be in a position to jump on it right away and reduce the risk of losing it to another renter.
5. See all units in person: Even though this may seem obvious, there are still people that rent places without seeing them in person. You never really get a good feel for a place unit you can actually see it and visualize how you would set things up.
6. Consider getting professional help: Enlist the services of a broker or real estate agent. They often have the low down on units that will be available and have yet to be listed. Plus, they will often do much of the legwork for you and set up the viewings. However, depending on the city where you are looking and the person you hire, you may need to pay them a fee – A fee that is more than worth it if they can find you the perfect rental!

These tips will help you find a great rental. And don’t forget; sign up for renters insurance to protect your personal belongings.