When looking for a home as a renter you’ll want to make sure that your new residence is all that it can be, inside and out. Follow these tips when visiting rental homes to make sure that you find the right one for you.
Make a wish list
Write down the features you want and need in a renal home. What does your ideal rental home cost per month? What does it have in terms bedroom, bathrooms and overall square footage? Do you want a new one, an old one or does it matter? Do you care about hardwood floors and a fenced backyard? If you make a list in advance of what you are looking for, it will be easier to evaluate rental houses when you visit them.
Keep notes
If you’re like most people, you probably won’t discover your perfect house on the first day out. Be sure to keep thorough notes on everything you liked about the houses you look at, inside and out, and what you didn’t like, otherwise your search could become a tiring blur.
It can also be handy to take a digital camera and snap a few photos of houses you visit to jog your visual memory. Houses may start to run together after a long day of house hunting.
Also, keep track of any items that would need to be noted on an eventual walkthrough with the landlord, such as appliances or fixtures that need repair, peeling paint or any other aspect of the house that needs improvement.
What’s the vibe?
Your first impression of a house is important. Do you like the way it looks/feels? Is it sunny or gloomy? Does it smell odd? Whatever house you get serious about, be sure to visit it at different times of day and night to get a feel for safety and traffic patterns.
Don’t rush
Sometimes we don’t have the luxury of time when looking for a new place to live, but try to make give yourself as much time as your situation allows. Start your hunt before you need to leave your current residence, and don’t let fatigue or stress make your decision for you. Take breaks during your hunt and process the homes you looked at each day by going through your notes and comparing findings with your fellow hunter. If you’re looking solo, bring a friend or family member to bounce thoughts off of and provide moral support.
Looking for a house to rent can be exciting, but if you see enough of them or are in a hurry, the process can be more exhausting than anything. Know what you want before you start, be thorough, and pace yourself so that you can make a clear-headed decision on the house that’s right for you.