If you're thinking of moving out of the house or apartment you're currently renting, you might be feeling some stress or anxiety about the process of securing a new place.
However, if you follow a few simple tips, you can greatly simplify your search for rentals and find the perfect living space.
First, you should start looking early.
Beginning your search with plenty of time to spare will greatly increase the chances that you find a place you love with all of the features that you're looking for.
The best time to start looking for rentals is at the end of the previous month.
This is typically when landlords and realtors begin to put up ads for vacancies.
For example, if you want to move on August 1st, you should begin your housing search on or around June 25th.
Waiting until winter is also encouraged, because there will be less competition from other prospective renters.
Many leases end in August, and many people move in May or June because they have finished college or graduate and are moving elsewhere to start a new job.
This makes the period between December and March a great time to find a new place without worrying about someone else beating you to it.
If you have the resources to do so, you might wish to hire a broker.
An experienced broker can help narrow down your search by pointing you towards rentals that meet all of your needs.
Experienced brokers are generally very well-connected and may hear of vacancies or available places before the general public does.
This will give you an advantage over other prospective renters because you will be able to apply earlier, which will give you a better chance of putting down a security deposit and signing your lease before someone else does.
When searching for rentals, you should be sure to prioritize your needs.
Everyone has their own idea of a dream house or apartment, but the reality may be very different from what you've envisioned.
It is very unlikely that you will be able to find a living space that has every single one of the features you want.
However, if you do a bit of thinking and figure out what you can and can't live without, you will have a much better chance of finding a house or apartment that you like without feeling dejected that it doesn't have absolutely everything that you're looking for.
A final helpful tip is to make sure you have all your paperwork ready.
Renting a house or apartment is not like buying a house.
It typically only takes one or two days for a landlord to process your application, contact your references, and make a decision as to the status of your application.
Therefore, if you can't give references or get your credit check done fast enough, you might lose out on the place of your dreams simply because another prospective renter was faster.
However, if you follow a few simple tips, you can greatly simplify your search for rentals and find the perfect living space.
First, you should start looking early.
Beginning your search with plenty of time to spare will greatly increase the chances that you find a place you love with all of the features that you're looking for.
The best time to start looking for rentals is at the end of the previous month.
This is typically when landlords and realtors begin to put up ads for vacancies.
For example, if you want to move on August 1st, you should begin your housing search on or around June 25th.
Waiting until winter is also encouraged, because there will be less competition from other prospective renters.
Many leases end in August, and many people move in May or June because they have finished college or graduate and are moving elsewhere to start a new job.
This makes the period between December and March a great time to find a new place without worrying about someone else beating you to it.
If you have the resources to do so, you might wish to hire a broker.
An experienced broker can help narrow down your search by pointing you towards rentals that meet all of your needs.
Experienced brokers are generally very well-connected and may hear of vacancies or available places before the general public does.
This will give you an advantage over other prospective renters because you will be able to apply earlier, which will give you a better chance of putting down a security deposit and signing your lease before someone else does.
When searching for rentals, you should be sure to prioritize your needs.
Everyone has their own idea of a dream house or apartment, but the reality may be very different from what you've envisioned.
It is very unlikely that you will be able to find a living space that has every single one of the features you want.
However, if you do a bit of thinking and figure out what you can and can't live without, you will have a much better chance of finding a house or apartment that you like without feeling dejected that it doesn't have absolutely everything that you're looking for.
A final helpful tip is to make sure you have all your paperwork ready.
Renting a house or apartment is not like buying a house.
It typically only takes one or two days for a landlord to process your application, contact your references, and make a decision as to the status of your application.
Therefore, if you can't give references or get your credit check done fast enough, you might lose out on the place of your dreams simply because another prospective renter was faster.