Before you Sign that Lease…

Renters play a more prominent role in the real estate market following the burst of the real estate bubble. According to the U.S. Census, three million households have become renters since this time. In the past four years alone, the number of renters has increased two percent to 33.6%.

Renters have more rights than they used to. Each state (except Arkansas and Colorado) has passed a law requiring landlords to provide "a fit and habitable place to live," allowing renters to withhold rent or deduct repairs from their rent. Unfortunately, few people are aware of these rights. Many are recent or first-time renters. Regardless, it's important to rent from landlords with acceptable policies. The best way to determine this is to preform research and ask questions.

First, research the condition of the home according to your own personal walk-through(s). Take your time when you walk through a rental home. Note every imperfection and test everything you can: lights, stoves, toilets, hot water, water pressure, air conditioners and heating units, etc. Still, many things are not readily apparent when walking through a home. When in doubt, ask:

Recent home maintenance. How recently was the property renovated? Has mold been an issue? How recently have the windows been insulated?

Pest control. Is it included in the rent? How often is your unit serviced? Who is responsible for infestation (i.e, who has to foot the bill)?

Service providers. Does your landlord employ vendors to repair major appliances, or does he have a go-to handyman? Ask about your landlord’s service plan, including the process you must take to submit complaints and the average response time.

Incidentals. Be sure you are fully aware of parking arrangements (where can your quests park?), pet policies, laundry facilities (including method of payment, if applicable) and natural disaster preparation and damage control. We may not have to worry about hurricanes in Central Ohio, but tornados pose a very real concern. Is there a safe storm shelter? Finally, know what is included in your rent. Some landlords include bills in their rent, such as water, waste removal, electricity, cable & Internet, and gas bills. 

Make Your Rental More Like Home

It's very common to rent an apartment or home before buying, but this doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style and decor. Here's how you can personalize your rental and make it feel more like home:


Replace mini-blinds with fabric, woven shades, or curtains. You can even sell them to the next tenant.

Paint. Many landlords don't mind painting, but may require you to paint the unit back to its previous color (commonly white) when you move out. Better yet, some will let you keep the color so long as it is approved by the new tenants. 

Upgrade light fixtures. Select modern light fixtures to give your rental a classier look. Keep the old fixtures so that you can replace them when you eventually move out.

Use the space above kitchen cabinets. Consider placing baskets above kitchen cabinets to keep extra items, such as dish soap and paper towels. This will serve both as storage and decor.

Embrace adhesive paper. If there is an eyesore in your rental, for example a rusty fridge door, you can cover it with adhesive paper that is stylish yet easy to remove when it's time to move out.

Ask your landlord. While these tasks require landlord approval, there is room for negotiation. For example, you could offer to split the cost of new kitchen appliances. This adds value to the rental and will make it nicer to live in. Finally, some landlords have policies in which upgrades made to the apartment are permitted so long as they stay. In other words, you can add curtain rods so long as they remain with the unit in the future.

If you're feeling exrta artistic...

Remove kitchen cabinet doors, and paint the back of the cabinets an accent color. This will give the illusion of depth, and will also make the space more cozy. If you're hesitant to make such a big change, try it along one wall. You can also use a spray adhesive to attach decorative paper to the back of bookcases in order to make them more interesting.


For more more tips on how to decorate a rental, click here.

Finding the Perfect Apartment

The perfect apartment doesn’t always depend on square footage and floor plan. What should someone do before deciding to rent? Research. Renting is a long term legal commitment in which your time and money are deeply invested. First of all, research the area. Visit the community and walk through the neighborhood. Make multiple trips on different days (you may discover that rush hour traffic could take up too much of your time, the nearby-train station produces too much noise at night,  or that parking on the weekends is far from guaranteed). Secondly, examine the condition of the property. Get answers to questions regarding the property’s cleanliness and maintenance. Does the landlord provide pest control? Will s/he take car of broken appliances? Because a landlord will have your unit looking its best at the time it is shown to you, it’s a bad sign if the unit is in poor condition before you actually move in. Finally, research the landlord. Is s/he the owner of the property? Property records and court records can confirm that the house/apartment is not in foreclosure, or that homeowners association payments aren’t in arrears. 

Read the full article here. Click on the video below for a 10-step tutorial on how to find & rent an apartment.