Fewer and fewer people can afford to buy houses, and so many are turning to renting. If you move around a lot for work or want a temporary home, renting might be an ideal solution for you and your loved ones. You need to know that leasing a property is different to buying one. There are loads of details you have to know about if you want to make sure that the deal works for you. Here is everything you need to know.

Negotiate the terms you need

Before you sign the lease, the power is in your hands. At that point, you can negotiate your terms. Some people think that they don’t have the right to haggle with realtors, but they do. If something about the lease isn’t right for you, say so. You might want a shorter rental term than they are offering you or maybe a lower price each month.

Photographer: Matthias Ripp

Ask what the rent includes

When you rent a house, you need to know what that sum includes. Some agencies will include tax and bills in the deal. If you can get an offer like that, you are lucky, and you should snap it up quickly. You need to know what your rent covers so that you know whether it is an excellent deal (or not).

Browse houses online before you view them

There are many sites where you can browse a broad range of houses. You should opt for a large site, such as H2 Real Estate that has loads of properties available. If you like the look of a particular house, you can call the company and ask to arrange a viewing. This tip is vital as it saves you wasting time by going to see loads of houses you don’t want.

Check that your landlord has deposit protection

When you rent a house, you need to give your landlord a deposit. That sum might be around the same amount as your monthly rent. You will get the money back when you leave the house so long as everything there is in excellent condition. You need to check whether your landlord has deposit protection. That means that he or she puts the money in a safe account where neither of you can get it until your term is up.

Take photos the day you move into the house

When you move into your new home, be sure to take loads of photographs. You need evidence of the house’s condition on the first day you get it. You will need to keep those photos in a safe place and make sure that they don’t lose them. That way, if your landlord accuses you of damaging something, you will have evidence to the contrary.

Get an insurance policy to cover your contents

Everybody needs contents insurance when they move into a new home. Your landlord will probably have building insurance, and so you don’t need to worry about that. If something goes wrong with the structure of the house, your landlord will deal with the issue right away. Your contents insurance covers everything in your home. You will need to make a list of all the valuable things you own and send it to your insurers. That way, if something breaks, you can replace it.

Read your policy agreement!

It is vital that you read your agreement before you sign it. Of course, this tip should be obvious, yet few people bother to follow it. There will be loads of clauses in the policy, and you need to understand them all. If you have trouble with the agreement, ask a friend to look at it with you.

Renting is a viable option for many people these days. With this easy advice, you should get a home that suits you without having any problems. See you again soon for some more tips and tricks!

Categories: Real Estate