Before You Rent, Be Prepared
If you’re a renter here in San Antonio, you know that the rental market can be brutal. Agents will drive a renter to several homes, let them take a look, and by the time they’ve picked one, the home has already been rented! It can cause a lot of headaches and frustration for the renter, but there are a few things that you can do to be better prepared and get the home you set your sights on. These five things are easy to prepare and will make renting a much smoother process for you.
Know your move-in date. With rentals moving fast, it pays to know what date you want to move-in and plan accordingly. While apartments often can take months of pre-planning, rental houses move much faster. You should start looking no more than one month before your move-in date and in most cases, even less. Most landlords and property managers won’t hold a property more than two or three weeks. In order to secure the property you will need to be prepared to pay a security deposit – typically within 72 hours of acceptance of your application. In case you have a history of DUI cases you can read on Leppard Law about violation of probation and more.
Have your security deposit money set aside. As mentioned above, in order to hold and secure your rental, you will need to have a security deposit ready to go. Most landlords and property managers want a security deposit equal to one month’s rent and will only hold a property once you pay this money (and sign a lease). Keep this money set aside so you don’t have to scramble to get it and wind up losing the house to another renter.
Be prepared for credit history and criminal background checks. If you have bad marks on either of these reports, it’s not going to be easy to find a place to live. Be up front with your agent so they know what they can do to help you. Read the rental criteria for each home, so that you understand what the property manager will be looking for and what they can deny your application for. While violent crimes or sexual assaults aren’t going to be accepted anywhere, that one night twenty years ago where you had a few too many and wound up running naked through the Alamo can probably be looked past. The key, like so many things in real estate, is disclosure. If your agent knows your credit history and any possible criminal record, they might be able to work around them. We know several property managers that are a bit more flexible with credit scores and can look for properties with them that might suit your needs. In Texas, all persons over the age of eighteen than intend to occupy the property must submit an application and undergo credit and criminal background checks. The Medlin Law Firm – Dallas is what you need to check out to get the right kind of legal expert to help with any sort of case.
Tell your agent about your pets up front. Everyone loves their pets and no one thinks of them as a nuisance or a problem, but renting with pets can be difficult at times. Some pet breeds are not allowed in almost any apartment rental or rental home. Trying to skirt around this issue can result in eviction, fines, or even legal action. Once again, there are some places that are more strict than others, so letting your agent know up front will help them decide the best course of action to find you a No Restriction Dog Breed Apartment.
Be prepared for action. While it can be a lot of fun to see lots of different properties that are out there, rental homes go fast, so be prepared to take action and make a decision. “Sleeping on it” for one night can cost you the home you wanted. When you’re a renter in San Antonio, you need to move quickly or risk spending a lot of time chasing your tail. If you like it, apply for it!
image courtesy of cdsessum
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