House Procurment Shopping Tips to finding Your Fantasy Spot

Izvor: KiWi

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When you are house or apartment rental hunting, many people have fallen in love with a place then moved in. After all the hard work of getting all your stuff in place do you discover that this new abode of yours, isn't exactly the answer to all your rental apartment or rental house dreams. A lot of people fall into the trap, excited by the thoughts of living in a new apartment or house. These renters tend to overlook some important details.

Some of these details include: just a month after you move in, you discover that your neighbor upstairs likes to play bowling in the hallway in the middle of the night or those thick plaster walls you were so happy with, block your cell phone signal.

Do not despair. There is a quick and easy list for you to follow when apartment rental hunting. By following these tips you will be able to find a house or apartment rental which will fit perfectly for you.

The Lease

o Is there a security deposit? Are there any move in fees? Many larger houses and apartment buildings limit the days and hours when new residents can move into a rental apartment or house. This is to limit the disruption to other residents.
o Are the utilities included with the house or rental apartment?
o Are the lease terms flexible? Some larger houses and apartment buildings offer options such as six month or 12 month leases.
o Is the house or rental apartment rent controlled?
o Is there a broker's fee? The fees for house or rental apartments are common in cities such as New York.

Amenities

o What's the cell phone reception like? When you are house and rental apartment hunting, be sure to take out your cell phone and walk around the property to test the signal.
o Is there off-street parking available? If so, how much does it cost? On-street parking is another option. This works out cheaper but be sure to check if you need to register your car or if you have to buy a resident parking sticker.
o Does the house or apartment have extra storage? Sometimes if the closet or storage space is small, some buildings have extra storage for a fee.
o Is the laundry on site or in the house or rental apartment unit? Do the washing machines look new or look worn out? What kind of system do they use, a card system or coins?
o Does the house or rental apartment have air conditioning? If not, is it allowed to install air con units?
o Does the kitchen have appliances like garbage disposal, a stove, a refrigerator or a dishwasher? Are they new?
o It's a good idea to bring along a tape measure so that you can measure the rooms and doorways.
o Are pets allowed in the building? If so, are there any fees to be paid.

The Neighborhood

o What is the access to public transportation like? Sometimes an ad might say that the rental apartment or house is "close to the subway/bus", its better to walk it yourself to see exactly how far it is.
o Is the house or rental apartment far away from grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, drugstores, discos, bars or cafes?

Building

o What type of people live in the building? Is it full of college students or retired people?
o If the ad says the house or rental apartment is "walk-up", that means there are no elevators. This might be of concern if you have a lot to move or if you have some oversized furniture.
o It's a good idea to visit the house or rental apartment during the evening when more of the residents are more likely to be home. What is the noise level like?
o If you need work done, how fast is the landlord to respond?

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