Renting a House Checklist

When renting a house, there are a variety of factors to consider. Renting a home is different than buying, in that there are many responsibilities you will not be accountable for. However, there are still a lot of similarities when it comes top comparing various houses and adding up the plus and minus columns to choose your perfect temporary home. Your best bet is to use a checklist to prioritize the things that are important to you and use that as a starting point in your rental home search. Families with small children will have a different set of wants and needs than a confirmed bachelor or a senior citizen. The following checklist should help you to make a final decision.

Tips

Your monthly budget will obviously affect your decision; certain neighborhoods may be off limits as too pricey. Decide what is most important to you and what you can live without to compromise on a home you will be happy with. You may choose to live in a rural area and endure a longer commute to work, school, markets, and other amenities. Alternately, you may decide that you prefer living in the bustle of the big city where dining, shopping, and entertainment is mere blocks away suits your lifestyle.Many people prefer the suburbs as a comfortable compromise between country living and city life. Do a little research on the area you are considering moving into, and get a big picture of the kind of prices that are average for rentals, and what kind of homes are available. The nice thing about renting a house is that you will generally not be responsible for normal wear and tear or emergency home repairs. You'll want to find a landlord with a good reputation for upkeep. Nonetheless, still check on the state of the home as far as you are able - it would be huge disruption in your life to have to be relocated temporarily while a major problem is being fixed.

Nicole Nichols-West Published on Jan 2, 2012

This Checklist was posted by Nicole Nichols-West, a member of our community where everyone can post productive lists.