The holidays and summer are over. From the 5-star hotels, restaurants and apartments, you return to your old home and realize that you need an upgrade. But where do you start? How do you find the perfect rental property and does it even exist?
This article will help you ask yourself the right 10 questions before renting a home.
- Location
Regardless of the reason for your relocation, the most important question you need to ask yourself is “where?” Where do you want your new home to be? Play it safe by renting something in your old and familiar neighborhood or go to the other side of town because all your friends are already there? Close to work or close to the park? Don’t underestimate the importance of location – your workouts can depend on the proximity of a gym to your home. Good road infrastructure, parking (if you drive), and overall amenities will save you a lot of time and nerves in the long run.
- Building
Once you have decided in which area you will live, it is time to think about the building. Brick buildings with insulation and new windows are preferable. New construction is also possible, but it is important to ask yourself: Is the construction of good quality? A survey of the building for no more than 20-30 minutes can save you from troubles such as: leaks, insect and pest control, high bills, noise from neighbors (due to poor sound insulation) and others.
- Budget
Now it's time to set a realistic budget: "What is the amount I am willing and able to spend on rent, deposit and bills each month?" It is important that the sum of all monthly expenses is not more than 30-35% of monthly income. It is advisable to also have 1-2 rents saved in reserve for emergencies. Unfortunately, however, current prices make this percentage difficult to achieve. With a salary of €1500, you cannot afford an apartment more expensive than €500. And this leads us to the next question:
- Costs
Are the apartment and the building energy efficient? Or in other words – what are the expected average costs? It is not only important that all electrical appliances are present, but that they also work efficiently. The energy efficiency and the expected consumption of a given electrical appliance can be easily checked, as long as you know its model. If the joinery and insulation are of high quality, this also implies lower heating costs. The safest method to check these costs is to ask the owners for invoices and previous payments. However, if no one has lived in the apartment, you will need to do a more thorough inspection of the building and the installed appliances.
- Cohabitation
Will I live alone? If you have a roommate or partner with whom you share all the expenses and he/she has a similar income to yours, your budget literally doubles. With double the budget, you can afford an apartment that is twice as expensive. This makes shared living very popular among young people.
- Exhibition
What kind of exposure do you want your apartment to have? Many people underestimate the importance of this question, but it is of great importance. Don't like the sun shining directly into your eyes in the morning? Then an east-facing bedroom is not for you. Do you like coolness and minimal direct sunlight while working? You need a north-facing office. It becomes clear that the mood in the apartment depends on the exposure at different times of the day, and this becomes especially valuable when you share the apartment with a partner or with small children.
- Furniture
If you have already answered the questions above, it is very likely that you have started going on viewings. Is the apartment furnished and are there any items that you will have to provide at your own expense? Think long-term – if there is no terrace, but there is no dryer either, this could be a prerequisite for the appearance of mold. If you have to completely furnish one bedroom, perhaps the rent is not fair and you would have the opportunity to negotiate a lower rent. Always ask the owners if additional furniture is planned beyond what is currently available – you will be surprised how many of them are willing to invest additionally in their home.
- Management
Who manages the property? Get to know the intentions and expectations of the owner or the company behind the property management. Make sure that their interest is in the long-term rental of the property in question, not in its future sale or placement with a relative.
- Contract
Of course, the above can never be a guarantee, but the contract can. What are the terms of the contract? You can find dozens of standardized versions of rental agreements online. For convenience, you can use the free sample contract template prepared by a lawyer at flatimo – just fill out the contact form here and you will receive the finished contract within 24 hours.
It is important to pay attention to the notice period and the term of the lease. It is recommended that the deposit is not more than 2 months' rent and that there is an option to extend it. In case of early termination by the tenant, it is good that the penalty is not more than 1 month's rent, and in case of termination by the landlord - this is only possible with prior notice.
- Improvements
Do I have the right to make changes to the apartment? Although it is not your home on paper, in practice it will be. It is important that you feel good and free in it, and what gives greater freedom and home comfort than hanging a picture or poster, putting up a shelf or moving a piece of furniture. Some landlords are firmly against such interventions. Make sure that your views and those of the landlords do not differ too much and there will be no unpleasant surprises.
Our experience shows that these are the key questions to ask yourself before renting a home. Have you ever wondered “What is the allowable percentage of commission that a tenant should pay to an agency?” We say 0%, with which we aim to eliminate the vicious practice in the market – commission is taken from both sides of the transaction, regardless of the fact that the tenant found the property himself. If you have answered all the other questions, welcome to our rental offers with 100% real ads.
