Seasoned Renters--how do you find nice places?

Question

Hello all,

Noob real estate scholar here.  I am inexperienced as a tenant and would like to see how the pros conduct their due diligence when renting.

I like to drive to a candidate rental neighborhood at night, preferably on the weekend and park, to observe what goes on.  This helps me assess potential crime risk.

Also, at one place I was sure I wanted, I paid the entire lease (12 mos) up front in order to get a 10% discount, after haggling them down from the initial asking price of course!

Any and all apartment/rental hunting tips are appreciated.

Account Closed · Answer

I'm a landlord and I have very nice rentals. Here's my tips for the tenants who hope to secure a clean, well maintained rental in a good neighborhood.

Have a pen and paper ready when you call. 95% of the tenants who call me have to go and find a pen when I try to give them the address of my unit. Hey, they called me. Then they showed me with the very first call that they are disorganized. It's not the best first impression.

Teach your kids to behave. I'm not impressed when 2-3 kids are screaming their heads off and I can hear things breaking when I am on the phone with a potential tenant. I take kids, I like kids, but I also know landlords who will screen out wild misbehaving children.

Pay your bills on time. I am a private landlord. I know I give better service than any of the local rental agencies. But I also screen a lot harder than the local agencies. If you don't pay your bills, I am going to deny you.

Be on time for your appointment. If you don't show up, I'm not going to give you a second chance.

I take pets. When you bring the dog, have him clean and with enough training so he listens to you and shows me nice manners. An obedience class is cheap and fun for both you and the dog. I am going to reject you if your dog is a wild maniac.

Leave every rental you live in spotlessly clean and in good condition. Pay your rent on time. I am going to check with 2 of your landlords, and I want to hear that you have been a good tenant.

As for picking the place you want, drive around the neighborhood with your eyes open. What is located nearby?

What is the neighborhood like at night? Go park and sit and watch.

Call the local police and ask them about calls in the neighborhood.

If you have children, check the sexual preditor's website to see if threats are in the neighborhood. (The level of threat is a direct proportion to how closely you supervise your kids. If they run loose in the neighborhood they are at more risk than if you watch them when they are outdoors).

Don't rent any place without seeing it, and I mean the actual unit you will be living in. Do not accept any unit that still needs cleaning or repairs. Sometimes promises don't get kept.

Take photos before you move in, so you have proof of condition.

Don't rent a place with a big yard if you don't want to do lawn care. Apartments are for people who don't want to care for exteriors.

It makes a good impression if you carry a list of the information and phone numbers that you will need to apply for a rental. If you find the one that makes your heart sing, sit down right then and there and fill out your application. You will need contact information for your current and prior landlord, contact for your job reference (and maybe 2 of them), contact info for your personal references. Maybe license plate numbers for the cars. Take picture ID to the interview.

I see what the houses look like where the landlords acept people with bad credit and criminal records. I wouldn't want to live in those houses or those neighborhoods. Be responsible, pay you bills, don't commit crimes, take care of the place you live in, and you will be able to rent the nicest of rentals.

Account Closed · Answer

One last tip: if you call on a place that looks interesting and get the answer machine, leave your phone number and your name. You wouldn't believe how many messages I get where someone asks me to call them about the rental and they don't leave me a phone number. I can't call you if I don't have a number.

Even more people leave a number, but don't give their name. I will call, even though I don't know whom to ask for. Many landlords will not.

Chase T. · Answer

I work in apartment rentals, so I feel I am qualified to help you. I agree mostly with the first persons reply, except about the units not being ready. I have no problem leasing an apartment that isn't finished when you see it. First, you can always have them put it into the lease that those things will be done, and that you reserve the right to refuse taking possession until they are done, etc. Also, if they haven't painted, you can request certain paint colors or accent walls, and again, have them in your contract. Spell all of this out on a Allonge (a blank piece of paper that has additional stipulations), staple it to the contract, and reference the Allonge in the contract. Have both parties sign the Allonge.
                    
                    Also, if you are dealing with a small landlord, meet with the landlord to sign your contract. If he seems like he's too hands off... Walk way. If he's a pain in your ass... Walk away. I'm sure all of the landlords here are going to throw stuff at me, but some landlords are too spread out to fix important issues, or too concerned with their property that they will try and micromanage your lifestyle. 
                    
                    Also, take pictures of the apartment before and after you move out, and I mean LOTS of them. Put the pictures on a disk and mail the disk to yourself. This package is for your own records if you get into a security deposit dispute. Stick a copy of your lease in there as well. You should also keep another copy on hand for your own reference. You are mailing the copy purely for the postmark. Don't open it!
                    
                    Lastly, when you are signing your contract, look for non-standard items. Are they asking that you clean the carpets? Paint? If there is damage, are you responsible for full replacement costs or replacement cost minus previous wear and tear. When are you expected to give your landlord notice that you going to renew? Make sure that you agree with these terms, and know what you are signing! Avoid the cheap, scummy seeming, landlords! They are the ones who are going to expense normal wear and tear against your security deposit account. If they expect you to do the turnover for the apartment for you, that's a sign to move along. Of course, always leave your apartment sparkling, and be nice to your landlord. Your next one will contact them.

Mark N.A · Answer

Around here my college renters drive around on Saturday night and see who's having the best party.

My chronically-unemployed renters drive around during the weekdays looking for the same thing......

Account Closed · Answer

CJ, I think what you are asking is: if you are an excellent tenant and certain that you can get accepted, how do you find a great place to live.

You have to look around and see what is available.  Pick a neighborhood that you like. Drive around and look for "for rent" signs. Read the classifieds, Read Craigslist. Let your friends know you are looking.

Each neighborhood is different. Find one that appeals to you and look for rentals in that neighborhood. Pick up the freebie local papers and check out the news and events. That will sometimes tell you which neighborhood is which.

The big apartment complexes almost always have a vacancy or two. If they are in the neighborhood you like and they look clean and well maintained, call and get an appointment to see the inside.

Ask the local police which neighborhoods have the least crime (or, I don't know, the most prostitution and drugs if you are looking for a disapated neighborhood, everybody likes something different).

Craigslist is a good place to look, because most ads have photos.

The landlord is not allowed to tell you what and who is in the neighborhood. That's steering and it's illegal. But if you want the Jewish area, look around the synagog. If you want the gay neighborhood, get their newspaper and see where the events are. For ethnic neighborhoods, look in the yellow pages and see where the ethnic grocery stores are located and drive around and see what sort of signs are in the business windows.

If you want a luxury house, check out the places that are high rent.

If you want the best place, the only way to find it is to go to work and hunt.

C J · Answer

great info.  I will definitely start sending photo cd's to myself before/after the move.

vacancies are still pretty high so as I get closer to lease end in a few months I will be looking in the free papers, craigslist etc to make sure I am getting a decent deal.  Its plenty of work for sure, but since I dont have to option to buy right now, its worth it to find a place that suits me well.

right now I am in an in-law suite in a single family home and it has worked out very nicely.  very good price with all utilities included, safe neighborhood, and the landlords bring me dinner sometimes.

thanks to all for your input!

Chris Wechner · Answer

I agree with your statement about renting out properties that are in the midst of repairs.  I work for a company that matches tenants with landlords' vacancies.  For some of our properties, we offer the tenant a chance to select paint color, carpet vs. hardwood floors, etc.  However, I agree with the original poster that tenants need to be careful with this.

This statement made me laugh.  Years ago, I rented a unit from this guy, who seemed really nice.  He seemed to be a bit of a character but nice enough.

One week, I was working 3rd shift.  So I was trying to sleep as much as I could throughout the day.  Suddenly, my doorbell rings.  I'm trying to sleep; so I decided to ignore it.  The doorbell rings, again.  It rang no less than five more times.  So I approach the front door, look through the peephole, and see my landlord.  I realize that he starts to open the door with a key.

I opened the door, and he told me that he saw my car (since it was during the day when I usually worked), and he was worried.  Years later, I put together that he was worried alright.  He was worried that I lost my job and wouldn't be able to pay the rent, anymore.

Yeah...Totally screen your landlord, if you are able.  Great point!

C J · Answer

That was a really good, informative post.  I think your last line sums up your point of view though.  You are just trying to filter out the dregs from living in your properties.

What I would like to see is the point of view of someone who already possesses these qualities and darn well knows it.  I want to see the pro renters who know what they're doing and use whatever information and resources at their disposal to find a desireable place and negotiate a better contract.

I know I'm a star tenant, and I'm only renting because I'm in a temporary position ( I just left the service and need to finish school)  I don't need to be reminded to clean up after myself or to be on-time at appointments.  I'm just new at renting and wondered if there was any informative experiences out there to be shared from the tenant point of view.

Didn't anyone here ever start out renting before becoming a bigshot investor?

Luis A. · Answer

I agree with all the above. The reality is there are a bunch of screening tips you can use. [removed]

Seasoned Renters--how do you find nice places?

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