Renting an apartment is a serious business; after all, you will be spending a lot of your monthly income on rent, and thus, it is imperative to take note of certain elements before you sign on the dotted line. A savvy renter is nothing but someone who uses their common sense, does a little bit of planning, and knows what questions to ask beforehand. If you are a beginner at renting one of the apartments in Minneapolis or have had rental experience, here are the most important things to ask from your landlord.
Payment: Get in writing the application fees, move-in cost, first month’s rent, and security deposit. Some landlords require one month’s and last month’s rent in Minneapolis in advance. Do ask them whether utilities are included in the rent or will you be paying for it? Remember anything that has to do with money exiting your pocket, ask about it.
Know the rules beforehand: Apartments in Minneapolis comes with its own rules that you should know beforehand to avoid getting into any trouble later on. Ask if pets are allowed or not? Can you have overnight guests, and if yes, for how long? Can you paint the walls and hang photos? It is better if you get a copy of the rules that you can keep handy.
Take note of your surroundings: One of the important and yet the least bothered aspect of renting apartments in Minneapolis is knowing in detail what your neighborhood is like. The initial research of crime in the area is very important, especially if you are new to the city and don’t know anyone. Ask your neighbor what those streets you should avoid after dark are.
Timing is critical: In Minneapolis, renting out an apartment is a seasonal activity. Nobody wants to move in winters due to snow, slush, cold wind, and ice. Due to this, many landlords are ready to give you an apartment at a lesser price to fill their units sitting vacant. If you are one of those who is constantly looking for a steal deal, then rent an apartment from November through April months.
Always read your lease in full: Since many renters go unrepresented in Minneapolis, many people ignore reading their lease in full, which gives rise to many scams. You must understand every single line written in the document and not just go through it at a glance. Remember, the lease document doesn’t just convey the rent amount you will be paying at the end of the month but what is included in the rent or what would happen if something goes south. The document covers what a landlord can and can’t ask from tenants. Experts say before signing the lease agreement, there is a huge scope for negotiating rent or terms.
Compare the rent prices: It is important to check whether you are getting a fair deal on your rent or the landlord is charging hefty rent from you. It is doable; look at any rent-comparison website on google and find out the average rent of apartments in Minneapolis to ensure you get a comparative rental rate.
There are a lot of things you need to take note of before moving in. Whether you are a first-time renter or someone who has rented before and has had bad experiences, to ensure the procedure of renting an apartment goes smoothly, it is best to ask questions as mentioned earlier while you have the landlord’s attention because once you sign the document, it will be too late to change your mind.
