Questions To Ask The Landlord Before Renting His Apartment
Apartment hunting is not the easiest thing around. You may find places not suited to your tastes or those which do are not to your budget. Eventually, you may have to settle for something a little less than perfect or if you're lucky, you may just find a home you love. However, before you finalise on the apartment, there are a few questions you need to ask the landlord so that there is no reason for disagreement later on during the lease period. In fact, some of the points mentioned below may also be included in the agreement for your safety so that the landlord doesn't go back on his word.
- When will the unit be available for occupation? If it's ready to occupy and it's impractical for you to move in immediately, you may have to negotiate with the landlord so that you don't pay for unoccupied time.
- How much is the rent payable and when is it due every month? How much is the security deposit and is it fully refundable?
- Is there a penalty fee for late payment of the rent?
- What are the terms for renewing the lease?
- Are pets allowed and if not, would it be possible to have pets if you paid a pet deposit? If a pet-deposit policy is in place, is it refundable if there's no damage caused to be found when you move out?
- What are the conditions if you have to move out before the lease expires? Even if you may think you won't have to move out for a long time, it's better to keep your options safe and negotiate secure terms should you need to move out earlier than the expiry of the lease period.
- Are any utilities included in your agreement? What are typical bill amounts in different seasons?
- Are you allowed to share your unit with roommates and what is the policy on subletting the place?
- Can you paint the walls or make other decorating changes?
- Are you allowed to run a home business from your apartment?
- Who will be responsible for property maintenance?
- Who are your neighbours?
- How close is the nearest post office, grocery store, bank, restaurant and public transportation?
Asking these questions only avoids any cause for disagreement in the future between you and your landlord.Sameer S Panjwani is the CEO of ChoiceOfHomes.com - Buy / Sell / Rent Homes Online
MORE RESOURCES:
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Should You Buy Hud Homes?
Buy HUD homes are sometimes the cheapest option available for a common man to own a house. The fact that teachers and police officers could buy HUD homes at 50% off the market value attracts more potential buyers.
Buy or Sell First?
When it comes to home buying, the ideal situation would be to find a new home, just as you receive an offer on your existing home. You would then be able to close concurrently and move into your new home a few days prior to closing on your previous home.
Ten Creative Financing Techniques
Do all the creative financing techniques you hear about really work? Yes, actually. They probably have all worked somewhere for someone at least once.
Real Estate Investing - The Dream House Effect
Several years ago I developed a philosophy in renovating houses which resulted in a finished product that I call a "Dream House" or "Doll House."How many houses on the market today look very ordinary and less than perfect? How many look "Plain Jane?" What is the difference between these "average" houses and the house on the block that is strikingly different at even the distance of a windshield view?The pronounced difference in the outstanding property offered for sale might be brilliant new lawn grass.
Real Estate Bubble: Fact or Fiction?
The real estate market buzz across the country these days revolves around the anticipated and much feared "bubble". The implication is that once burst, prices will spiral downward taking with them the major assets of those foolish enough to buy at a time when disaster looms large.
Are You Tired of Tenants, Toilets, and Trash?
Wouldn't you rather go to Tahiti? Are you a landlord with rental property whose value has significantly appreciated? Are you ready to cash in those profits and take that trip to Tahiti?Before selling your property, check with your accountant who
will tell you that you will be paying $60,000 in Capital
Gains Tax to Uncle Sam. Your accountant will also tell you
that adding another $20,000 to your income by that sale is
called recaptured depreciation.
Investing in Real Estate Like a Stock
A REAL ESTATE STOCK PLANGetting out of the bleachers and into the game!This report is going to explain or attempt to give the stock market investors a basic one-on-one interview with a real estate portfolio manager who has consistently made a profit on 100% of the investment products that were actively chosen and managed. Never a loss, always tax advantaged and sheltered.
San Antonio Texas Real Estate
The San Antonio, Texas real estate market is still going strong even after several years of growth.San Antonio ranks as one of the most affordable cities in the nation to purchase a new home.
Credit Help: Buying Real Estate -- Not the Same as Buying Cars
Credit for Buying Real Estate is Different than Credit for Buying CarsForget what you've been told about credit.You may be shocked at some of these tips because this information runs contrary to what other so called experts tell you.
If Your House Is a Mess, You Dont Have To Sell For Less
Don't be tempted by "We Buy Houses" or "Sell Your Ugly House in 9 days for Cash" ads.These savvy real estate investors look for sellers under duress.
How Do I Fix Up a Home to Sell?
The first thing you need to do is stop thinking of your home as "home" and start thinking about it as a commodity that you want to sell. To be a successful seller you must detach yourself emotionally from your home and be brutally honest about how it should look in order to sell.
A Few Easy Ways To Take The Headache Out Of Moving
Moving from one house to another is always a challenge, but it doesn't have to be a nightmare. Here are some simple tips on how to get it done with minimal stress and strain.
Zero Down Real Estate Investing
Zero down? Why would a seller want to walk away from closing with nothing? Well, they wouldn't, and that brings up the most important point about real estate investing with no downpayment: The seller almost always needs cash at closing, but it doesn't have to be YOUR cash.A Zero Down ExampleI'm selling a small rental property right now, with payments of $400/month.
Property in Bulgaria - Huge Investment Potential
Bulgaria is a truly magnificent country, located in Eastern Europe with an amazing coastline that stretches over 340km along the Black Sea, with a backdrop of one of the world's most magnificent mountain ranges and the beautiful and historic capital city of Sofia.Today Bulgaria not only offers one of Europe's most attractive and unspoilt holiday destinations it is also host to what will be one of the most dynamic and as of yet relatively untapped property and real estate markets.
How To Find Your Dream Home In Belize
Shopping for property in Belize is not as simple an undertaking as you might initially expect!Firstly, estate agents as we know them are non existent! Real estate brokers that do exist are likely to be unlicensed, unregulated and certainly not trained or insured.Secondly, the majority (and I mean the majority) of property for sale is not advertised!But with property prices remaining affordable, the quality of property available attractive, the climate beautiful, the people welcoming, the quality of life incredible and the opportunities in Belize plentiful, more and more people need to know HOW they can go about procuring themselves their dream home in Belize.
San Diego Real Estate, Million Dollar Homes
San Diego county has always been known for its Luxury Homes, yet in 2004 San Diego County luxury home sales (homes over $1,000,000) hit an incredible 2774 total units, an increase of almost 170% over total sales in 2003!In the entire State of California, A total of 33,107 homes sold for a million dollars or more last year. That was up 73.
NARŪ Broker Will Swear It - Real Pro' Agents Share It - FSBO Truth
For posting the "Truth" on your website, some FSBO's will not like you. These prospects would not have listed with you anyway.
Kings Bay Georgia Real Estate - An Amusing Tale About a Real Estate Agent
This story is true and not meant to hurt anyone, but the more that I think about what happened, the more it makes me laugh. I hope that you not only get a chuckle from it as I did, but take your time and look for a professional real estate agent.
Condo Hotels Offer Luxury and Great Investment Potential
Not Your Typical Vacation HomeWhat could be more perfect that owning a luxury vacation home at a landmark resort and receiving rent revenue whenever you're not using it? Condo hotels are the newest trend in vacation home ownership. Live in it when you're there; rent it when you're not.
Reprint Rights and How To Use Them To Generate A Steady Income
I can't emphasize enough how important it is to have a step by step guide for sellers and tenant buyers. However, many of you are missing out on other income streams that these step by step guides can generate.
|