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The city of Austin has certainly been looked at as one on the rise. With that comes an increased cost of living.
The average rent in Austin is around $1,572 per month. Considering that totals over $18,000 per year just in rent cost, it is fair for people to consider every factor before renting a home.
What should you ask about and watch for when looking for homes for rent? This is your guide when it comes to renting a house.
Apartment Condition
The first thing that you should look at before signing the dotted line on a lease is the condition of the apartment.
Do you have good access to running water? Are there any holes or permanent marks on the walls? Do your oven and stove work? Do any electrical outlets need to be fixed? What about heating and cooling?
These are all things that you need to think about before agreeing to a lease and double-checking them. If you agree to the wrong apartment with the wrong landlord, these may be issues that you could be stuck facing after the fact.
Lease and Deposit
Another thing that you need to ask about is how long the lease is and what type of security deposit is required upfront.
Different apartment complexes will have different rules, but if the deposit is more than you expected, that may affect your ability to pay for future rent bills. Plus, if the lease is only six months instead of a year, that could leave your landlord with more flexibility to increase your rent in the near future.
Let's say for example that the local rental market increases for nine straight months, like it did last year. The landlord may design the leases to be shorter, so that they can increase their rent quicker than if they put an extra six months on the rent and miss out on that extra profit.
Then, what if a landlord requires six months' rent up front instead of the typical first and last months' rent? That could leave a renter quickly having to scramble to come up with four months of rent costs that they may not have.
Look into these details to make sure you can afford any sudden expenses.
Extra Friends and Pets
Finally, you may want to have a friend or significant other move in with you after you sign the lease to an apartment. You could just want to adopt a dog or a cat after you move into the apartment.
If you think that these issues are a remote possibility during your lease, you need to ask your landlord about this in advance. Make sure you get approval to have someone else move in with you, and ask about the pet policy of the apartment.
Some apartments prohibit pets outright, and others charge an extra fee for pets. Plus, some landlords may require more information about someone else that is living with you permanently, so make sure you understand the rules about that.
See Homes for Rent
These are three things that you need to watch out for when looking at homes for rent. If you ask about these in advance, you will have a much better idea of what you are getting into.
Are you looking for a home to rent? Check out our listings at this link.
