Red Flags That Rental Home Seekers Shouldn’t Ignore

A good rental home can serve as a comfy and convenient residence for years – if not decades. However, not all rental homes represent good deals, and as anyone who’s ever lived in a poorly-maintained rental property can attest, it pays to do your homework. No matter how eager you are to relocate, there are a number of red flags you mustn’t ignore when seeking out the right rental home. So, if you’re currently on the hunt for a new rental home, keep an eye out for the following things.

Inconvenient Location 

Regardless of how appealing the actual home is, it behooves you to do some research into its location. For example, is this home found in an area with high crime rates? This is something that’s good to know in advance of signing a lease, as it’s perfectly reasonable for someone to want to feel safe in their own residence. Secondly, how far is this location where you work, the businesses you frequent and your favorite local haunts? While there’s nothing inherently wrong with living in an out-of-the-way locale, undertaking a longer commute and having to drive long distances just to run errands can prove extremely inconvenient and draining on your gas budget. Lonestar Staters on the hunt for Georgetown homes for rent can benefit from doing a little location research. 

Unaddressed Issues with the Property 

Moving into a rental property with outstanding issues is never a good idea. Depending on the size and scope of the problems in question, the property may not even be habitable. This is why doing a detailed walkthrough of any home you’re interested in renting is so important. While carrying out your inspection, make sure to list every problem – or potential problem – you come across. Upon the completion of your walkthrough, present the landlord with the list you compiled and inform them of any issues that must be addressed before you move in. Additionally, the property is home to a staggering number of issues or appears to have been horribly maintained, it may be in your best interest to simply walk away.

Inspecting a property before moving in also stands to shield you from liability for certain issues. For example, if the previous occupant left behind problems of which the landlord is unaware, they may ultimately blame you for said problems and deduct the cost of fixing them from your security deposit. This is yet another reason you should never sign a lease before inspecting the property in person.     

Problematic Landlord 

Few renters have positive things to say about their landlords. In some respects, this is far from surprising. After all, most of us tend to hold negative views of people and institutions to which we pay a sizable percentage of our monthly income. However, while many renters aren’t crazy about their respective landlords, it can’t be denied that some property owners are far worse than others. And getting trapped in a lease agreement with a problematic landlord can cause you considerable stress.

So, before committing to a rental home, do some research on the property owner. Fortunately, in the age of search engines, finding detailed feedback from current and former tenants shouldn’t prove challenging. When reviewing tenant feedback, it’s important to remember that every landlord is bound to have draw the ire of a few renters. However, if the consensus on a certain landlord is overwhelmingly negative, you may want to think twice before entering into a lease agreement with them.  

Exorbitantly High Rent

Before renting a home, take some time to research local rental rates. In addition to giving you a general sense of what you can expect to pay each month, this knowledge will help you recognize when a landlord is attempting to take advantage of you. So, if the monthly rent on a home you’re looking at is considerably higher than the rental rates for similar properties in the area, this should give you pause.

Few things are more frustrating than getting stuck with a rental home that’s poorly suited to your needs. Being trapped in a lease for a less-than-accommodating property can prove both financially strenuous and immensely aggravating, so if you’re currently in the market for a new rental, you’d do well to exercise some discernment. Additionally, no matter how eager you are to find a new place, you should never ignore the red flags discussed above.