There are a lot of things you need to know before renting a house; obviously you need to know what you’ll be paying, but don’t let the questions stop there! Before even applying you’ll need to know what is expected of you. I cannot say this enough, read the screening guidelines before you apply. You need to know that you can be approved before you pay your application fee. Every landlord and property management company has different qualifications you’ll need to meet to get you approved. These fees generally are not refundable, so it makes sense to invest your time in reading the application.
No matter if you’re a seasoned renter or this is your first time taking a look around a house that’s up for a new tenant, it is a process. It is similar to buying a home, so you’ll need to have all your documents ready to verify your income, your previous rental history, and your credit and criminal background. What is the first thing you should know? We’ll address that below.
As we mentioned above, the rent price is going to be the first thing you find out. However, you may need to adjust your cost expectations overall; the housing market is a fast changing place, and the rent prices on houses in your area may be far higher than you were ever planning to pay.
Aside from this, you may have to pay for extra fees on top. Maybe your landlord wants a credit check, renters insurance and you’ll most likely need a substantial security deposit - look into these ahead of time, and ensure you have enough money to pay for them in your savings account.
What’s known as ‘rent’ is often an overarching term that includes a few different things. And when renting a house, the rent might cover more than is typical if you were just renting an apartment, or moving into a house share.
Ask until you get a clear answer, as most landlords don’t include utilities. If utilities are included in the rent, what about landscaping, or HOA fees? Who’s going to be paying for these?
Not all tenancy agreements are created equally. Sure, there are local tenancy laws that technically restrict your future landlord from taking advantage of your position, but unless you know what these rights in law are, you won’t be able to speak up for them.
Make sure you’ve read it from page to page, checked up on the ‘legalese’ that you don’t quite understand. A bad tenancy is never going to be a desirable thing to live in, no matter how nice a rental property is.
Finally, when it comes to renting a house, the actual process of finding a place and getting a rental agreement might take much longer than you ever expected it to. Especially in Bend. The inventory of homes is very low right now. If you want a home, you need to invest your time and energy into the hunt.
225 NW Franklin Ave. Suite A
Bend, OR 97703
Mon – Fri:10am to 5pm
