Crucial Things Renters Must Do Before Signing a Lease | A Scott Adlhoch Guide

Scott Adlhoch
Aug 8, 2017 · 4 min read

“In this Scott Adlhoch Guide, you’ll find six crucial things you must do before you go ahead and sign that lease.”

Looking for that perfect dream rental property can be a daunting task. Many times it must have happened that you went through multiple properties on a given day but couldn’t find that one place you would like.

Once you do find your black cat in a coal cellar, it might be hard to resist the temptation. But as an expert in Real Estate, Scott Adlhoch points out that no such decision should be taken in haste. There might be some underlying conditions that you should be aware of before you take any long-term decision.

Scott Adlhoch

A Real Estate agent with over 20 years of expertise, Scott Adlhoch hails from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Apart from being a committed professional, he is a prominent community member and loves to play Baseball and Golf in the Community Club on weekends.

It is highly advised that you must not miss out on these 6 things before you sign the lease and seal the deal.

Things you must do before signing a Lease

1. Be assured that you’re signing the right lease

Right lease here refers to the lease being correct in accordance with the laws of the local city and state. Rules and regulations vary with the place. It’d be a good choice if you get yourself familiar with the local landlord-tenant laws. This will give you a clear understanding of the right lease and you can thus proceed with confidence.

As a bonus tip, Scott Adlhoch says, “Once you know the lease is right, go through the document more than once. Read the whole lease word by words and if you have any queries, ask the concerned person about it. Sign only when you have full clarity of the whole lease”.

2. Visit the place more than once

Before signing the lease, make sure that you visit the apartment more than once. And if possible, schedule this visit at different times of the day. Try to cover morning, noon and late evening in your visit.

It’ll give you a better idea of how the apartment looks at different hours and give you an opportunity to get more accustomed to the place.

Additionally, you can also ask the landlord about how the place varies in different seasons. He might share some insider’s tip and make you well-prepared for upcoming weather.

3. Get specific about customization’s

While everyone wants to make their living place their own home, it is essential to ask your landlord about the amount of customization you can make to the place. Although many lease agreements specify the number of changes you’re allowed to make, it is still better to be specific about what you have in mind and get a permission from your landlord first.

Also, if you find any repairs that should be made prior to your move, let the landlord know of it as well.

4. Remember: It’s an Alliance

It is called lease agreement for a reason. The tenant-landlord relationship should be cordial, to say the least. In a lease agreement, it’s essential to remember that two parties are involved. So, apart from having a clear understanding of your duties and limitations, it is equally important to know about the responsibility of the landlord as well.

Scott Adlhoch shares his opinion, “ It is a relationship based on mutual trust where your landlord trusts you with their property and in return, you trust them with maintaining a healthy and safe living environment.”

5. Know the neighborhood better

Neighbors can let you in on so much of information. Ranging from neighborhood vibes to the amount of utility bills you should expect, there’s a lot of information you can extract from having a conversation with a neighbor.

Ask them about the nearby facilities, neighborhood costs and of course about your prospective landlord. This information will give you a clear picture of your neighbors and neighborhood as well.

6. Know what’s included in the Monthly Rent

Ask your landlord about the breakdown of your monthly rent. It’ll give you a better ideal of what all costs are inclusive in the rent. If by chance, nothing is included, try to get an ideal about the utility bills and other facilities of the neighborhood. These additional costs may reflect as a great shock on your monthly expenses.

Advice by Scott Adlhoch, “Talk to your neighbors and previous tenants and jot down all the details about the costs involved and what facilities are offered free by the community. This’ll help you make a better budget and also save more taking advantage of community membership.

It’s Time to bring down the curtain now

We hope that you found this article insightful and take all the necessary steps before signing the lease.

For more help on Real Estate, you may contact his good-self, Scott Adlhoch and he’ll surely come up with a solution for you.

Scott Adlhoch

Written by

Scott Adlhoch — A Realtor in Grosse Pointe Park. Help to Find your dream Home: http://scottadlhoch.com/

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