My husband and I now live in what I would consider a cozy (read: 1,000 square feet of living space, snuggled amongst a row of other abodes) townhouse in Annapolis, Maryland. Despite constantly ripping my pants on the corners of trunks and bumping into the coffee table, we are quite happily situated. Our former experiences have not been quite so pleasant.
I live in the outskirts of Washington, D.C.; so there are a number of ways to find housing. I've acquired the past three rentals from Craigslist, Zillow, and the old-school way -- through a realtor.
Below are some of the tricks of the trade I picked up, while constantly on the move.
1. Location, location, LOCATION.
There are a few ways to determine a great location. As I'll mention below, your realtor can be a great resource. If you live in a bustling metropolis, make the drive to and from your potential home in rush hour a few times. We found that we were so close to huge highways that even running to the grocery store at certain times could be challenging. Next, check the local grocery stores. Are they clean? Are they close? Who shops in the local stores? It's a simple, quick way to get a feel for your neighborhood. Finally, walk around in the evening. Do you see children, families, friendly neighbors? Do you feel comfortable walking around in the evening?
2. Become besties with your realtor. Yes, realtor.
I've tried finding housing every way you can think of. I live in the outskirts of Washington, D.C.; so we don't exactly have a sleepy housing market. Typically, the housing is expensive and goes fast.
Craigslist can be tedious and frustrating when it feels like you're competing with a herd of Death Eaters for a 200 sq foot apartment for $1900 a month -- not a great option. Zillow IS a great option, if you are in a sleepier housing market. However, I found that by the time I contacted the proprietor, the location had already been snapped up.
While looking for a house for my husband and I after getting married, I contacted a realtor. Realtors can be a huge asset or detriment. We contacted a realtor when moving to Maryland because we both were unfamiliar with the area, and we needed a good location between two major cities.
The first key to successfully working with a realtor is to clearly communicate your housing expectations. Our first realtor showed us several properties outside of our price range or in sketchy neighborhoods. I was constantly disheartened and so worn out by the end of the process, we chose a house somewhat out of desperation.
Secondly, try to find a realtor very familiar with the neighborhood/ area you're looking at, specifically if you are looking in an unfamiliar area. We ended up choosing a home in a somewhat shady neighborhood, and paying for it later, because we weren't familiar with the neighborhood.
Finally, ask tons of questions. If you aren't satisfied with the answers, find someone else. This is going to be your home! Don't be concerned about hurting someone's feelings.
3. Meet the property owner/ landlord.
My husband and I discovered very quickly that the owner of the property makes or breaks your experience.
Three weeks before we were to be married, I ran up to my husband's (soon to be mine, as well) townhouse and discovered the Rain Forest Cafe consuming three floors of the house. A pipe burst in the bathroom on the third floor of the townhouse, causing a cascade of water to rush through the house for eight hours. We proceeded to battle with the property owner for our sanity and dignity for three months, concluding in the loss of not only our property destroyed in the flood but also our security deposit.
4. READ your lease agreement. The whole thing.
Hopefully, you won't have to consider sending your lease to a lawyer (I certainly didn't imagine I ever would), but preparing for the worst protects you in the future, and you should be well informed. Check for natural disaster clauses, trust me, they happen. When and how can you get out of your lease agreement? Can you continue your lease on a month by month basis after the conclusion of your lease? Is your landlord familiar with the language of the lease?
Our current lease actually includes a contract with a third party contractor for any reparative issues we may have with the house. Our dryer broke down, we called the third party, and within 24 hours an experience technician was fixing the problem. Best part: no money out of our pocket* and no issues with the landlord. I mean, I'm still staring at our sheets draped over the couch to dry because of said dryer, but at least the guy came out and looked at the dryer, right?
*If you do have this clause in your lease, be sure that you are not responsible for the deductible. You shouldn't be responsible for covering damages/ wear and tear you didn't cause.
5. Visit your new home after work hours.
The rhythmic knocking of your neighbor's headboard is not a pleasant soundtrack for your dreams. Paper walls are a reality when you're looking at renting a home adjacent to others, but some disasters can be avoided. Take the time to see the properties during the busiest hours of the day -- the evening. If you can hear your neighbor sneeze through the walls, perhaps it's best to look for another option. Parking may also be an issue. Check out the neighborhood after hours and see how challenging it is to acquire a parking spot.
Hopefully, some of these tips will save you from some of the heartache we endured and set you on the path to being a rental rockstar.
Big, big photo creds to my bestie, Lauren Winstead, who took the beautiful photos of the Winter Wonderland.
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