Be
confident.
A
good rental agent has your best interests at heart, but ultimately Realtors and
landlords want the same thing: to get their property rented. You, on the other
hand, are looking for a fair deal on a quality apartment. As such, you’ll need
to be your own advocate. Know what you want. Ask questions. Take pictures.
Demand everything in writing. Show them you’re someone to be taken seriously.
Be
informed.
Do
some research about the neighborhoods you’re interested in living in before you
start looking to get a rough idea of what you can reasonably expect from the
local market. Take some time to learn all the rental jargon to minimize the
risk of misinterpreting what the landlord or rental agent is saying.
Be
prepared.
Depending
on your location, the rental market can be pretty hectic, with properties
moving quickly. Be sure you have all the documents you’ll need to score a
rental before you go to view it. This includes a checkbook, tax returns,
paystubs, and bank statements. Also, be ready to answer questions about your
credit history, especially if it isn’t exemplary.
Be
vigilant.
There
are plenty of scam artists in the rental game, particularly with so many
renters searching online. Take care when looking for a rental on sites like
Craigslist, and don’t hand over any personal or financial information before
you meet with a landlord or rental agent in person. Finally, never sign
anything before reading it, and never put money down on a rental you haven’t
seen in person.
