So you’re about to sign a new lease agreement to rent a place of your own. You’re about to get the keys. All you have to do is sign the lease.
Before you do, there are some very important things you need to know.
When Do You Sign The Lease To An Apartment?
You sign the lease to an apartment when you’ve made sure you can afford the place and the terms are favorable to you. Many tenants skip this step and it comes back to bite them.
Please know that when you sign an apartment lease, you’re agreeing to a contract. That means you’ll be legally bound to follow what’s in the lease.
The landlord has done all he or she could to get you to sign up for a new apartment. Perhaps they’ve taken you to the pool area and tried to impress you with the courtyard. Maybe you’ve been treated to the excellent fitness center or community room with a huge bar and billiards table.
Before you sign the dotted line, you should remember to make sure you know the following things:
1. Know Who You’re Renting From
Landlords will typically do a background check on you before they decide to rent to you. They want to know what type of person you are and more importantly, whether you’re a criminal.
For the same reasons, you should do some research on your prospective landlord as well.
Go to a website like RateMyLandlord, landlord online or ReviewMyLandlord.com to see what you can find out about your landlord before you sign the dotted line.
2. Document The Property’s Condition
Many landlords will not disclose cosmetic damage that is hidden or undetected by the tenant. That’s why you should look for things that could be broken or damaged in the apartment.
Once you find something that is already damaged, make sure it’s written down in the lease.
This will legally protect you in the future if there is a dispute about the condition of the property.
3. Make Sure You Know About All Fees
In addition to your monthly rent, many landlords will tack on other fees and charges not specified in the lease.
For example, there may be a service fee to use the trash chute. There also could be a service charge to use the washing machines.
Make a list of all the charges associated with your rent. Total it up so you can see how much renting there is actually costing you.
Final Word
Getting a new place is not as simple as looking online and asking to sign the lease. Your money, and more importantly, your safety, should be guaranteed beforehand.