Choosing An Apartment Or Townhouse To Rent
In a shaky economy, you may prefer to rent for a while before making the decision to purchase a home. Maybe instead, you know that you'll be transferred within a year and realize it wouldn't be a smart financial decision to buy a house. No matter what the reason, many people choose to rent the home or apartment they live in, instead of purchasing one. Of course, you may dream of owning your own home one day in the future, but for others, the benefits of renting a home far outweighs the choice of home ownership. If renting is the best choice for you either long or short term, there are a few considerations to think about before looking at available apartments and townhouses.
Because the home you choose will be where you spend quite a bit of time, ensure it's in a good location for your needs. If you're choosing an apartment or townhouse, make sure it's in a secure enough area that you won't worry about your safety. Pay attention to the other tenants in the building. Do they take care of their belongings or is there debris strewn around? Be certain that there are not a lot of people loitering in the parking lot. Because apartments and townhouses have groups of people sharing common parking areas, ensure that you will have an assigned parking spot convenient to your home. You don't want to be lugging groceries or heavy bags from the far end of the parking lot only because there is no close parking available.
When you've decided on the location, find out all your upfront costs. Most rentals companies expect the first month's rent, the last month's rent and a security deposit upon moving in to the unit. The security deposit is usually equal to a month's rent but depending on circumstances could be more, especially if you have small children or pets.
Do your homework before you start looking at available units. Know the areas you'd like to live. It's recommended when you move into the unit take pictures of everything then8 and again when you move out, ensuring there is no damage. Any damage you cause will be covered by your security deposit, otherwise it will be returned to you upon moving out. Choose your apartment wisely and always try to be a good tenant. Your stay will be much smoother and your problems few.
