Apartments Rentals ‐ Questions to Ask Before Signing Your Lease
When looking for apartment rentals, there are probably lots of thoughts clouding your head. Perhaps you’re excited about getting that set of keys and turning the place into a home, or you are thrilled or nervous about your move. No matter what your situation, however, when shopping for apartment rentals, the most important thing you must do is to thoroughly study your lease before signing it. Aside from reviewing the lease, feel free to ask your landlord or apartment manager questions about renting, or about any other aspect of life in your perspective new apartment. He or she should be helpful and must address all your queries, and more importantly, put what you’ve discussed into writing.
Questions to Ask About Apartment Rentals
So, what are some important questions to ask when looking at apartment rentals before signing a lease?
- How much is the rent? Questions about rent are very basic yet very crucial, as the apartment must fit your budget, of course.
- When is the rent due?
- What is the length of the lease?
- Under what circumstances can I break the lease? Some landlords allow their tenants to break their lease once they prove that they have been relocated for work or have purchased a house- others don’t.
- Which utilities am I responsible for? Utilities make a big impact in apartment costs, so be sure to gather as much information about them as possible.
- What is the cost of the utilities for the apartment I would like to rent?
- Is the heating electric or gas?
- Am I provided with cable or satellite service?
- What is the parking situation? This is a very important question if you own a car. Check if you will be provided with your own parking spot and ask whether your guests can use other parking spaces when they visit your place.
- Can I make improvements in the apartment?
- Can I re-paint? This is important as well. You might have found the perfect apartment location but what if its walls are painted in a dreadful color? Some landlords will allow you to re-paint while others won’t. Details about redesigning should be included in the lease.
- Ask about noise. Are there rules? Do some of the tenants make noise frequently? If noise is a huge issue for you, you better make sure you know these answers.
- If you own a pet, ask about the pet policies. Each apartment will have its own set of rules and regulations about pet ownership. Some apartments will allow pets while others won’t. Some apartment communities are very particular and will even look into a pet’s breed type and weight.
- Review your lease options and ask if you will be allowed to take in a roommate or perhaps, add another name to the lease after moving in?
When looking at apartment rentals and asking question, try to think in both the long and short term. There are lots of apartment rentals out there, and asking the right questions is key to choosing the best one for you.