Getting the Most From Your Rental Search

Shopping for rental housing should be no different than shopping for a car. When you think about it, as a tenant you are committing to a substantial amount of money (a year’s rent), not to mention the cost of moving. Making an emotional or careless decision can haunt you for a year or longer. Here are some tips on getting the most out of a your search and showing so you have something substantial on which to base your final decision.

1. Decide what you can afford:  Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommends that your rent payment be no greater than 30% of your monthly income before taxes. That is a guide. If you have dependents, loans or other commitments, 30% is probably a maximum. If you are single with few commitments then 35% may be workable.
2. Discern between Wants and Needs:  List them both. Do you need four bedrooms and a basement or just want it? How many bathrooms? Close to bus routes or buried in suburbia? 
3. Choose an Area:  Look at a map of the county or city and divide it into areas. Prioritize them and begin your search in the most desirable first. See if you can afford what is available. CraigsList.org, for example is a good place to start to get a feel for the price ranges. There are other sites that are useful.
4. Narrow your choices:  Make some appointments and always be early. Your attention to the appointment is part of how the landlord views your attention to  paying rent! Dress to impress.
5. Remember you are interviewing the landlord: The lease is an agreement to do business. It swings both ways. You are interviewing each other. Ask for references from existing tenants.
6. Return to the neighborhood and interview the neighbors:  Ask about the house, previous tenants, problems they may have had. Also ask about noise, crime, parking, neighbors, that all paint a picture of the lifestyle. Don’t be shy; people love to talk!
7. Make a decision:  If all your choices meet your budget and needs, then your final decision can be based on your wants.
8. Fill out the application:  Supply all requested information. If filling the application out on-the-spot is anticipated, bring a copy of your driver’s license, employment information, a month of pay stubs for all income, and a free credit report that you can download from the internet.

77th Meridian, LLC offers professional property management in Anne Arundel and surrounding counties, including Baltimore City.
** EXPERIENCED, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE**

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