9/17/2023 0 Comments Online first apartment checklistNote that even after you’ve signed a lease, depending on your area’s tenant’s laws, your landlord may be required to repair minor fixes, and generally are responsible for any repairs that affect a tenant’s health and safety on the property. For instance, if a bathroom contains moldy caulking around the tub or the blinds are bent or cracked, ask that they be replaced. If there’s something you don’t like or are concerned about, try to negotiate a fix with the landlord or property manager before you sign a lease. Never sign anything you don’t understand completely. If you don’t understand any part of the lease or if you object to anything in it, talk to the landlord or property manager. You can also ask your landlord if they offer digital lease signing through a portal like Zillow Rental Manager to give you more time.Īny lease you sign is legally binding, and the landlord will be able to hold you to the terms of the lease. If you don’t have time to read it on site, bring the copy home with you or take a photo of all the pages. Are tenants having trouble with management not responding to requests for building maintenance? Are there complaints regarding tenants’ rights being overlooked? Review the leaseĪsk for a copy of the lease and read it. Unhappy people tend to speak out more, and while their voices should not be discounted, they can provide a distorted picture of what it might be like to live there. Give particular consideration to reviewers who provide pros and cons to get a more balanced perspective. If the building is managed by a professional management company, be sure to read online reviews, and research the company too since it will be responsible for maintaining the building, conducting repairs and collecting rent. If you’re renting an apartment, research and read reviews about the building. Think about your lifestyle and what you need and want to feel safe and comfortable in your home and neighborhood. It might be much noisier at night than during the workday, or parking may be scant in the evening - a potential issue if you work late or like to go out with friends in the evening. If possible, visit the rental and spend time in the neighborhood during the day and at night. The photos will allow you to take a closer look when you’re back at home deciding whether to sign a lease. Pay particular attention to any feature or condition that might stand out as a potential repair later on, including unrepaired nail holes in the walls or excessive soiling of the carpet. Document your findingsĪs you walk through the rental, use the checklist to evaluate the condition or existence of the following:īring a flashlight and a phone to take photos throughout the home, condo or apartment. If the unit has been previously occupied, being inside it will also give you an opportunity to detect any lingering scents of pets or smoke so that you can decide whether you want to make a special request for cleaning. By touring the unit you’re considering, you can evaluate the exact layout, the placement of windows and proximity to things like stairwells and elevators. This is especially true if you’re touring a brand new apartment or condo building. Models can provide a sense of what it might be like to live there, but they are not a substitute for visiting the unit you’re considering. Walk through the rental you will be living in To help you know what to look out for, we’ve put together a handy walkthrough checklist to bring with you, along with tips on what to look for and what to expect. But it can help to use your initial tour as a chance to screen for potential problems with the property. Once you sign a lease, you’ll typically have an opportunity to formally document your rental’s move-in condition and notify the landlord of any issues. Every rental has its pros and cons, and you don’t want to get so excited that you overlook things that can detract from the pleasure of living there, such as a dishwasher that’s on its last legs, deeply stained carpet or loud traffic at all hours. If you’re like the typical renter, you’ll take two in-person tours when searching for a rental to determine if the home is a fit. A tour or walkthrough will help you get a sense of the rental’s condition and what it might be like to live there. Once you’ve found a rental that looks amazing on paper, t he first thing you’ll want to do is to give it a more in-depth review with a tour. Free Download: Zillow's Rental Walkthrough Checklist
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