Top 5 Things Renters Should Look for Before Signing a Lease

Renters beware, it isn't just the landlord that needs to check on you. You should check on the landlord as well. Signing a lease agreement puts you in the position of having to deal with the landlord for a minimum of what is usually a full year. You should also make yourself aware of any issues with the rental property before you sign the lease. You could be in for a big surprise if you don't. Don't sign any contracts (lease agreements) without first finding out what you need to know.

Top 5 things renters should look for before signing a lease:

Damage- One of the first things that renters should look for is if there is any damage to the house before you sign the lease. For instance, are there any holes in the walls? Are the windows in good repair? Little things like this may not seem like much until you move in. Make sure all repairs are made before you sign the lease for the rental property. The main reason for this is that when it is time to leave the rental unit, you will be held responsible for the damage even though you aren't the one that caused it. If it can't be repaired before you move in, make sure that you at least get it in writing that the damage was already there. If not, your security deposit can be held by the landlord for the cost of the repairs.

Mold/Mildew- It is highly suggested that you ask about any mold or mildew in the home that you are considering renting. Mold often hides. You can't always see it and a landlord can easily cover it over. Mildew is a stepping stone for mold and mold is extremely harmful to your health. It is extremely important that you find out if there are any mold or mildew problems in the home before you move in. You can often detect if there is a possibility of mold or mildew problems if the problem is bad enough. You can usually smell mildew in the basement area of a home, however, this isn't always the case. Be cautious.

Landlords Reputation- There is no doubt that your landlord will check your reputation out before they rent to you. Tenants should do the same thing. Find other people who rent off the landlord to find out what type of landlord the person is. For instance, make sure that the landlord makes timely repairs on the property if something goes wrong. There is nothing worse for a renter than a "slum lord" type landlord.

The Neighbors- Find out what type of neighborhood that you are considering moving into before you sign a lease agreement. A landlord isn't going to tell you that you may be moving into a potentially risky area. Ask people what they think of the neighborhood that you will be moving into if you sign the lease agreement. Have you met your potential neighbors? Know what the area is like and most especially the people that you will be living around for at least a years time. This could change your mind completely about where you will be living.

Noise Levels- One thing that potential renters don't pay much attention to when they look at a rental property is the noise level of the area. This can have a major impact on your day to day life. If you don't mind noise, you won't mind living on a busy street. If you do mind a lot of noise, you are better off looking for a place that is in a quiet neighborhood away from traffic and other noise makers such as the local firehouse. This is something you should consider greatly before you sign a lease agreement for any rental property. Noise levels don't bother everyone, but when they do, you have to be careful about where you move.

Renters have every right to be choosy about their landlord as well as the place they will be living for at least the next year. Never sign a lease agreement unless you have determined that all of the above are to your liking. Your place of residence should be someplace you enjoy being rather than a place that you have to go because you need to sleep sometime. You won't ever find a perfect rental property to live in, but you can find very good ones with good landlords. You don't have to settle for sub-par landlords or housing.