Ah yes, the joy of renting. Living in a space that’s almost yours, but not quite; repairing damage before you move out; paying the rent on-time, every month. It’s almost a rite of passage for those who make it out of their parent’s place, which seems to be an achievement in and of itself these days.
There are obvious advantages to renting as well. The ability to live somewhere amazing without a long-term commitment, the lack of responsibility for building upkeep, and most importantly, the ability to live on your own without having to take out a mortgage. But with every rental comes a landlord, the person to whom the rent is paid. Having a good landlord can make all of the difference in the world. But what should you look for in a landlord? We’ve got some tips.
Responsiveness
If you’re on a tour, and you get a chance to speak with the current tenants in the unit, it’s always a good idea to ask them about their experience with the landlord. While there are always points at which disagreements can arise, the way they are handled is of much more importance to you, the renter. There’s nothing worse than moving into a place to find that something is different than had been advertised, or that there are lingering problems that haven’t been fixed. Doing some due diligence, whether it’s online research or speaking to current tenants, is a great way to find out more about who owns the unit before you commit to renting it.
Transparency
At the end of the day, your lease is a contract between you and the landlord. You agree to pay a certain amount per month in exchange for the landlord leasing you the space and providing basic upkeep on the property. But inevitably, there will be bumps in the road. Before you move in, or in the process of staying through the first iteration of your lease, pay attention to how your landlord responds to questions. Do they offer quick answers or elaborate when asked? Have you discovered defects that were not disclosed before you moved in? Transparency is everything in what essentially amounts to a business relationship.
Communication
You’re enjoying a nice night in, hanging out with your friends, and suddenly, you see water trickling up through the floor. Oh no! What to do? Call the landlord, of course! Will they respond on time? It’s very possible to ascertain this answer before moving in. When in the rental evaluation process, does the landlord respond promptly to questions? Were they available when you wanted to see the property? Did they provide sufficient information? The way they act in the process of examining places to live is usually a good indicator of how they’ll be once you’ve moved in.
Finding a rental property can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Copper Hill can find you the rental property of your dreams. Visit us at copperhillre.com to learn more!