Now is a busy time in a lot of rental-heavy communities and with a lack of quality available units, property managers afford to be picky. Being a good tenant will ensure you a long and pleasant stay, as well as good references from your landlord when you move out. Here are a few tips to guide you to a smooth tenancy and maybe even to a more relaxed existence.
- Read your lease thoroughly before signing, be sure you understand all the terms in the contract and ask about what is allowed and not allowed on the property. Go over the rules about noise, guests, pet policy and unit remodeling. You may want to enhance your quarters later on, apply wallpaper or mount additional wall cabinets so you need to pay extra attention to such details or restrictions in your rental agreement. Breaking the lease even once may mark your reputation of a good tenant and make you liable for paying damages. However, major repairs are covered by the landlord, also spelled out in the rental agreement. You just need to stay informed and know your rights. A set of guidelines governing the tenant landlord relationship is available at the site of the Landlord Protection Agency.
- Keep your end of the bargain. Once you find a nice apartment and you feel comfortable with the property policies, make sure you take good care of it. The landlord will appreciate your efforts and will be much more willing to accommodate your requests when it comes to repairs or upgrades.
- Be a considerate neighbor. When sharing space with other people, there are certain issues mostly related to noise and cleanliness that are bound to appear. Generally, these problems may be easily fixed if you approach the situation respectfully, productively and most important calmly. Nothing good ever comes out of an intense argument and if you feel there’s no other way to deal with a rude neighbor, better turn to your landlord for help. He’ll be able to mediate and let you find closure.
- Know that you are responsible for your guests. You may be held liable if for instance a friend slips and injures himself in your kitchen or causes damage to the apartment or the common grounds of the property. To keep you protected against such happenings, consider purchasing renters insurance. Resident Shield rental insurance offers protection against personal liability as well as property loss due to fire, robbery, vandalism or lightning.
- Pay on time. It’s no secret that property managers value residents who are financially responsible and always look for ways to keep them happy. If you pay the rent on time, you become a dependable tenant which is the essence of an investment in real estate.
