Questions to Ask Before Renting a Property
Looking for a new home is often challenging, particularly if the rental market is tight and options are limited. Before renting a property what types of questions should Tenants ask themselves before making a final choice for their new home?
Ask Before Renting a Property
- What type of neighborhood is the home located in? Is it a safe area? You’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable with the location of the home before considering it. If you just don’t feel good about it once you’ve driven around the area, it maybe isn’t the right choice for you. Your security is important so make absolutely certain the area suits you.
- Is the home in an area with a lot of families? You’ll want to check on that too. Schools, playgrounds and parks are all good indicators you’re in a family oriented neighborhood so make your decision based on whether or not this meets your needs. This also applies to access to public transit, shopping, church, and leisure or sports activities. If it’s important to be near these types of things, double check where they are before you sign a Tenancy Agreement.
- Is the home well maintained? What is the yard like? When viewing a potential new home, keep an open mind because not all tenants have housekeeping skills to match your own and if they’re getting ready to move, there may be boxes and clutter everywhere. Instead, look for things like damages to the walls, are the floors or carpets clean, stained, scratched or banged up, or does the home need painting. Often times, this can be related to the current occupant, but you’ll want to clarify with the person showing you the home that these types of items will be repaired or addressed before you move in.
- Who is the Landlord? Clarify who you deal with if there are maintenance issues, where you’ll pay the rent and who you should call if there’s an emergency (and if that person will respond to emergencies 24 hours a day). If there’s a Property Manager involved, there’s a good chance there’s a 24 hour answering service so when the hot water tank goes at 3:00 a.m., you’ll get a call back pretty quickly.
Renting through a Property Management company gives you the peace of mind to know you’re dealing with experienced professionals who can handle any situation that might come up. [su_divider]
At RE/MAX of Nanaimo Property Management, we can help you find the ideal spot to call home. Our Property Managers are here to assist you so call our office today at (250) 751-1223, or check our available rentals here.
