A great number of people opt to rent and not buy a property. This is a common practice all around the world, from Texas to Paris.
Some people simply cannot afford to buy a house, so they rent; others tend to relocate a lot so investing in buying an apartment doesn’t make any sense for them; young people mostly rent serviced accommodation when they leave their family house; etc. In all of these cases, people know how stressful and difficult searching for a new home can be.
Especially taking into consideration that time is truly precious nowadays, so having to spend weeks and months searching ads and looking at different properties can cause many people to feel overwhelmed before they find their ideal new home. To help you find that one, perfect place for you to rent, we bring you a few tips.
Establish a Budget
This should be your first step, as it will help you narrow down the search. You should carefully calculate your monthly expenses and see how much of your income you have left by the end of the month.
Otherwise, you might end up in a situation where you rent a gorgeous apartment, but after a certain period, you realize that you cannot simply afford it.
Thus, take a sheet of paper and write how much is your monthly income and how much you spend on food, clothes, bills, restaurants, and how much are you willing to pay for your monthly rent.
If you are still unsure about the amount of money, some experts advise that you should spend approximately 30 percent of your income on housing.
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Know your Exact Location
Another factor that helps you find your ideal apartment faster is knowing a specific location. For example, if you are planning to move to Texas for work or college, you will find out that there are plenty of houses and apartments that are up for rent in this state.
However, if you are a future student or professor at Texas Tech University, you will know to narrow your search down to Lubbock apartments for rent only, as this city is the center of the University.
This way, you will only get to look at those apartments that are close to your school/work and won’t lose time considering those properties that will take you hours to commute, such as Dallas or Houston.
Moreover, if you are planning on staying in the same city, but want to change the house/apartment, it will help you a lot if you know what exact neighborhood it is that you want to rent a property at.
Search Online
You can always ask your friends if they know someone who is renting a place, or you can browse the local newspapers for ads. However, another great idea is to search for online listings and social media, especially if you are moving to another city far away.
By looking at specialized websites that offer houses/apartments for rent, you can use filters to adjust the search to a certain location, time that you plan on renting a property, as well as for opting only for apartments that are pet-friendly or suitable for a larger family.
In the same manner, you can join different social networks to see the ads that are offered in certain groups (such as properties for rent in Texas) or write a post on your account, stating that you are searching for a new place to rent and specify the details, and then share it online.
Read and Ask
Once you do find your ideal place to rent, you still have to think about the terms and conditions of your lease, as well as your rights and obligations.
This means that you go through everything written in your contract and ask a real estate agent or your lawyer about anything you are unsure of. Moreover, ask your future landlord about the details that are or aren’t noted in your contract.
For example, this can be referred to whether you have to pay any fees if you have to cancel your lease for any reason or can you get any discount if you pay the rent in advance.
Additionally, you can see what perks you have at your new place and if, for instance, you get the right to use the pool on the roof of your building.
To conclude, finding a home to rent is never an easy task but with the help of these tips, you will save a lot of time searching for one. Remember to be wise and ask anything that may seem unclear to you, as this is your legitimate right.
