If you’re a first-time renter, you’re probably eager to sign your agreement, get your keys, and start living the good life as an apartment dweller. But slow down for a second and take a deep breath; if you go rushing into your new life without being aware of the potential dangers, then you might find yourself in serious financial, legal, or even physical trouble. So, take a break from your preparations and learn a thing or two from renters who have gone before you. Here are seven common mistakes that new renters make.
1. Not Inspecting the Property
You may be shopping for an apartment in a different city than the one you’re currently living in. As such, you might feel tempted to agree to rental terms before you ever have the chance to see the property first-hand, especially if you have access to photos/videos. Fight this urge. Until you get a chance to inspect an apartment in person, you can’t be sure that you’re getting what you think you’re getting. Move through the apartment slowly, photographing any preexisting damage, and checking every socket, switch, fixture, lock, and appliance for functionality as you go, so that when you sign the contract, you know exactly what to expect. Even if this means staying in a hotel for a few days while you visit apartments in your new city, know that you’ll be better off taking your time to do it right.
2. Ignoring your agreement
There’s a certain freedom that comes from renting your first apartment, but just because you get to be the king or queen of your own castle, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can do whatever you want. Your renter agreement provides you with the DO’s and DON’T’s of your residentship, so be sure that you inspect it closely enough to be sure that you’re not accidentally violating your contract. As for purposely violating your contract—whether in regards to pets, guests, apartment alterations, etc.—you should never assume that you’ll be able to keep minor indiscretions secret from your property owner. In all likelihood, you will eventually be discovered, and then you’ll have to face the consequences.
3. Not shopping around
Once you’ve made the decision to rent an apartment, you may find that your excitement begins to get the better of you. As a result, the first place that you look at that even remotely fits your needs may seem perfect. Well, reign it in, because chances are that if you keep an objective head on your shoulders and keep looking, you’ll find something even better. Even if you don’t find something else and you decide to go with the first apartment, at least that decision will be an informed one based on facts and experience, rather than impatience.
4. Not checking out the area
Unless you don’t plan on ever leaving the apartment, you should make it a point to get out and check out the neighborhood before you sign the lease. Get a feel for the town itself, both during the day as well as at night. See what stores are nearby and make note of any necessities that may be difficult to find. If you have children, take a look at the distance to the nearest park. Determine where the closest hospital is, as well as nearby entrances to the freeway. Check with the local police and figure out how prevalent crime is in the region. Remember, this is where you’ll be living, so you had better be comfortable with the area before you commit to it.
5. Not meeting the neighbors
Going hand in hand with checking out the neighborhood, you should also get a feel for your neighbors. Don’t be shy about knocking on a few doors and introducing yourself. After all, you’ll probably be interacting with these people more than you think, so try to get that relationship started off on the right foot. Also, if you have (or plan to have) a family, you’ll want to consult the National Sex Offender Public Website, which allows users to view details regarding potentially dangerous individuals living nearby.
6. Not taking care of utilities early
When you’re inspecting the apartment, you should be able to test the electricity, heat, and water, because at this point the property owner is covering that bill. However, unless otherwise specified in the contract, once you become a resident, suddenly the utilities are your own problem. Don’t put off contacting the various utility companies and getting everything turned on and setup in your name. Even if you’re given some leeway time (some property owners will let you have two or three days to get everything taken care of), you should still make it a top priority to get the utilities transferred over and set up as quickly as possible.
7. Forgetting about storage
OK, you’ve found the perfect apartment. But there’s one more thing you need to consider before you can slip into your new role as a resident: storage. Are the closets going to be large enough to hold everything you own, and if not, is there access to onsite storage? If you don’t have enough space to store your possessions, then you’ll end up with an apartment that looks cluttered, messy, and uncomfortable. Before you move into your new place, take an inventory of exactly what you’ll be bringing with you, and then double check to make sure that there will be room to store it all. If there isn’t, then you might need to find a bigger place, or at least get rid of some things before you start packing.
What renting mistakes have you made? Let us know in our comment section.