Tenants who lease a single-family home rather than a flat in a multifamily home enjoy more solitude, yard area and silent. A house also gives most tenants a larger sense of homeyness and permanence, even if the ultimate aim is home ownership or a eventual move into another rental. Make the practice of locating your home, completing your rental program and preparing to sign your rental faster and more efficient by following a few basic steps.
Know how much rent you can pay. A safe guideline is 25 to 30 percent of your gross monthly earnings. Proportionately higher rent reduces the chance your program will be accepted because it increases the risk that you’ll default on your rental.
Collect documents before you start taking a look at houses, you’ll need for your program. Prospective landlords may want to view pay stubs, several months’ worth of bank statements, a current –not older than 30 days–credit file, and references from your employer and present landlord.
Pick when you’d love to move in the house and for how long you want to lease it. Most leases begin on the first of this month and expire after a year. But it is frequently possible to add a clause to the rental allowing you to occupy the house early to get a pro-rated lease amount. Some landlords offer yearly leases.
Research available houses, and schedule appointments to look at the ones you’re most curious about. Many resources are available. Free online classifieds are the principal source of rental listings in many cities. There are lots of sites dedicated particularly to single-family houses that real estate brokers, property managers and private owners list for lease. Real estate professionals, including rental listing referral agents and rental residence and apartment locators, may charge a fee for their services. In the end, newspaper classifieds continue to be a popular source of ads for rental houses.
Submit an application just after you have read the rental and decided the terms are okay. You may negotiate the terms.
Walk through the house after your application is approved, and observe any damage prior to signing the rental. This step is especially important in a single-family residence, as problems can go unnoticed. Make sure that the faucet runs hot water. Inspect ceilings for water stains. Start looking for indications of moisture from the basement, for example water stains along the lower parts of the walls and a musty odor that could signify mold. Have the landlord clarify items of concern and also signal the list of defects to ensure you will not be billed for them as soon as the lease expires.
Bring a cashier’s check for the total amount because of your rental signing. Most landlords require first and last months’ rent, plus a security deposit equivalent to one month’s lease.
