First, Last and Security Deposit

[Stephanie Bureau]

When you rent out a place how much do you require your security deposit to be? 1 month's rent, $1,000, $500 etc? What about requiring last month's rent and first month's rent? 

I was thinking of asking for security deposit and last month's rent at the time of signing the lease then have them pay first month's rent on the 1st (or whenever the lease starts). Is that too much or normal.