Top Tips For People Looking At Renting*

*This is a collaborative post*

Getting ready for a move, whether it's a first time thing or something you've done several times can be super exciting and daunting at the same time. It's also classed as one of the most stressful things you can do. There are so many factors to consider that you'll probably be left feeling like you're going in circles.

Before you start your apartment hunt, there are a few essential things to consider. Thinking about these things now rather than later can save you making time-consuming or possibly expensive mistakes. 

Have a look below at some of the areas you should be focusing on before a rental move:  

All Costs- Including Upfront

You may think that all you need to worry about is finding your rent each month and you're well on your way, but, there are a few costs that you need to consider before you even move into your new apartment. You will be expected to pay for things like application fees, a security deposit, and you often have to pay a month's rent in advance

Location

Before you pick somewhere to live, you should give some thought to the location. In a perfect world, you are going to want to be near areas that have the essential shops and services that you'll need, like grocery stores and restaurants. It's a good idea to consider the local transport or road connections depending on how you get to and from work too. It depends on your lifestyle and what's important to you, once you've set your sights on a location you can use websites such as Meriton to search for available apartments. 

Take Care Of Your Paperwork

Whether you're renting or buying somewhere, with property comes a lot of paperwork. You'll deal with paperwork both before, during, and after the process, so it's a good idea to get organized. It helps if you have your financial paperwork sorted before you even start to look. Chances are for a reference you're going to need to provide your credit information, referrals, payslips, and ids such as a drivers license and passport. When you do move in, it's handy to have a house folder to store all your bills, rental agreement, and insurance documents altogether. 

Plan For The Move

It's not a hidden fact that moving is hard work; therefore, planning it is most definitely the way forward. It's challenging to complete the task alone, so many people rope in the help of friends and family or a moving company to take away some of the stress. When it comes to packing, make sure you clearly label boxes with things like an indication of the room, the contents (if it's fragile) and if it's an un-pack first kind of box. 

Pets

Are you planning on bringing a pet with you? Or are you may be thinking about getting one in the future? If so, you need to make sure that your landlord accepts this. Not all will take any pets or require an extra deposit if they do so it's vital you get this checked out before you sign any paperwork. Another thing to consider is whether the space you are looking at is ideal for a pet as it's essential they have adequate space.

These are just a few of the top things to consider when looking to rent!

*Contributed by Sam Jones. Photo by Chait Goli from Pexels.

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