Owning a home is a big responsibility. Fortunately, it’s not one that you have to take on! That’s right! As long as you’re not concerned with that sizeable return on your investment, you can live a free-wheeling’, devil-may-care lifestyle, throwing caution to the wind and never having to learn how to change an HVAC! However, even if you never do have to know how to make improvements to your home, there are a few things you should know about before moving into a rental property.
At Colonial Van Lines, we think you should have every advantage when it comes to “just saying no” to turning into your parents, not that there’s anything wrong with that. So, we put together this blog so you can prepare for living the life of a renter.
Moving Into A Rental Property
Ready, set, rent? Here are a few things that you may want to take into account before you put down that security deposit.
Check out the Neighborhood
Even if you’re not planning on hanging around for too long, the neighborhood you live in plays a major role in your quality of life. And considering that you’re moving into a rental property, you’ll definitely want to seize each day without worrying about the distance to the convenience store, the number of karaoke bars within your radius, and the price of gas. Remember that while you may not be buying a house, you are buying a home! Check out crime rates in the area, transportation options, vehicle parking rules, etc. To find out more about a neighborhood, see moving.com City Profile Feature.
Read the Terms of the Lease
The main idea of the lease is to outline the terms under which one party agrees to rent property from another party. The key details are the pet policies, how and when to pay your rent, upkeep expectations, guidelines for breaking a lease, and getting your security deposit back. Pay special attention to those. It’s also never a bad idea to have an attorney or realtor take a look at the lease for you to make sure it’s up to standard.
Inspect the Property
If you ever want to see your security deposit in one piece again, you may want to document the condition of the pre-existing damage to your rental. Take pictures of any cracks in the walls, holes in the window screens, and dubious-looking carpet stains, and submit them to the landlord. These should absolve you of any responsibility for previous damage.
Get Renter’s Insurance
A landlord’s insurance may cover the building, but it won’t cover your belongings. To err on the side of caution, purchase renter’s insurance. It will help you replace items lost to natural disasters, theft, water damage, fires, and break-ins.
Keep Up with Property Maintenance
If there’s anything worse than letting your landlord know that something in your apartment needs repair, it’s your landlord letting you know that something in your apartment needs repair and wondering why you didn’t tell him about it earlier. Take our advice! Report all repair needs to your landlord immediately. Be flexible about scheduling the repair, and be sure to let your landlord know when the item has been fixed.
Talk to Your Landlord About Customizations
Just because you don’t own the place doesn’t mean you can’t ‘own’ the place. Most landlords are fine with tenants painting the walls as long as the tenants agree to pay to have them repainted when they move out. Do check with your landlord before making any drastic changes to the apartment. If customizations are sine qua nons, you may want to discuss them with your landlord before signing the lease.
Befriend Your Landlord
Love thy neighbor, despise thy landlord? Yes, it is common for tenants to cast aspersions upon their landlords, but maintaining a civil relationship is more conducive to a positive rental experience. Not only will it make it easier to communicate with your landlord about property issues, but it will also make the landlord easier to work with in the future.
Moving into a Rental Property with Colonial Van Lines
Now that the lease has been signed, and the security deposit has been, well, deposited, you’ll want to think about getting your belongings into your new rental. At Colonial Van Lines, we can help you take care of that. As the nation’s top-rated long distance moving company, we’ve got the skills, ability, and know-how to make the move to your rental property as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Our Free Rate Quote
In our 50 years of experience with 12,000 moves per year, we’ve met a lot of different people and worked on a lot of moves. But if there’s anything our customers have in common, it’s that they don’t want to get ripped off. At Colonial, we offer our free no-obligation rate quotes so that our clients have a reliable estimate of what they can expect to pay before they sign a contract. No fine print, no added services, and no bologna.
Our Full-Service Movers
From planning to packing, to transport to storage, Colonial Van Lines has the determination and experience to make your move as delightful as it possibly can be. We can take care of the packing, the transport, and the heavy lifting that comes with the relocation process. If you don’t want to do it, let our experienced movers take care of it. Trust us to get it done efficiently, affordably, and professionally.
Our Long-Distance Movers
Long-distance moving takes more than good navigational skills. It takes careful organization, focus, and dedication to delivering our customers’ items safely and efficiently. Our long-distance movers have the skill and experience to get your belongings north to south, coast to coast, and from sea to shining sea with exceptional customer service.
Whether you’re moving into a rental or moving into a home, trust Colonial Van Lines to do the job right. Call us today for our free rate quote, and we’ll customize a plan that fits your needs and budget.
