8 Tips for Renting your First Place – A Renters Guide to Finding A Great Place To Live

August 4th, 2014  |  Home Insurance

So you are looking for a place to rent. If this is the first time you are moving out on your own, there is no doubt that finding a place to rent can be an intimidating process. It is also be fun and exciting if you put yourself in the right position by understanding how renting works. Above all else, you need to be realistic about what you can afford and what you can expect out of an apartment, given your budget and location. 

To help you with your search, we have put together the following tips for renting your first place:

1. Do your research: Before going out and looking at places to live, take some time to read up about renting. There is more to know about it than just how to pay your rent. This will also help you better understand your rights as a tenant, what to look for, and the questions to ask a potential landlord when exploring your options. 
2. Know what you are looking for: You can save yourself a lot of time, effort, and frustration if you know what you are looking for before you start viewing places. Make a list of amenities and features that you want to have in a unit and use this as a way to compare your options. 
3. Narrow down your list of areas: Narrowing down the neighborhoods where you would like to live will make your search easier. 
4. Be thorough with your walk through: Make sure that you are thorough when looking at a potential place to rent. Giving it a quick one over is not the way to approach looking at a place that you might call home in the future. Look at everything and take your time doing it. 
5. Ask questions: The more questions you ask the landlord the better. Ask them about the rent, hydro, electricity, and water costs, the neighborhood, and rules and regulations (particularly important if you are looking at condos or apartments).
6. Understand what you are signing: If you do decide to rent a place, make sure that you get everything in writing. But, before you sign any documentation, it’s important to fully understand what you are signing. Know your responsibilities as a tenant, and know the responsibilities of your landlord as well. 
7. Get a second opinion: If you are not sure about a place, it is a good idea to get a second opinion. This could be a family member or it could be a real estate agent. Don’t discount the option of using an agent to assist with your search. They can be a big help!
8. Get Renters insurance:Renters insuranceis a must have. It will protect your personal belongings in case of fire, flood, other distracters, and will give you peace of mind in knowing you are protected. 

Following these tips will help you temper your expectations and be more efficient with your search for a rental unit that you can call home.