What Questions Should I Ask Before Signing a Lease?
Ask These
7 Key Questions Before Signing a Lease!
Deciding
to move into a new
apartment can be exciting! Chances are, you’ve already received a majority
of the information you will be needing such as the monthly
cost of rent and what utilities may be
included. Unfortunately, amidst all the excitement, some important details may
be overlooked. It is critical that you ask your potential
landlord about these details before signing a lease!
Are There
Any Additional Move-In Fees?
You might
think that you just need to pay the
first month’s rent in order to move in. In actuality, you will often need to pay
additional costs upfront such as your last month’s rent, a security
deposit, administrative fees and possible maintenance fees. If
you have animals, you may also be charged a pet deposit.
It’s important to ask about all the additional costs before signing a lease so
that you are not caught off-guard when move-in day arrives.
To What
Extent Can You Decorate Your Space?
One of
the downfalls of renting an apartment, is that oftentimes personalization
will be restricted. These restrictions will vary from landlord to
landlord, however, most often they will ask you to refrain
from painting the walls and hanging art or shelving. Although some landlords
may be more strict than others, it’s good to know what the rules are, before
being penalized for breaking them.
Are Pets
Allowed?
This is
huge, especially if you are already a
pet-owner. You will want to know what limitations your lease may have, as
well as any additional fees that may come along with having a pet on premises.
Pets can often become a point of conflict between landlords
and tenants, so is it important to learn everything you can about their pet
policy before stepping anywhere near a lease.
How is
Maintenance Handled?
This too
will vary from apartment to apartment, so you
will want to find out what your building’s specific policies are before
something goes wrong. For example, it would be unfortunate if a pipe were to
burst, leaving you scrambling to figure out what to do next, while your apartment
is flooding. If your landlord doubles as your contact for maintenance, make
sure to have their number handy, and if not, ask who you should call
specifically in the event something goes wrong.
What
Safety Precautions Have Been Put in Place?
One of
the most important questions you can ask when it comes to a new apartment is
whether or not the locks will be changed between your move-in date and the
prior tenants’ exit.
You might be surprised by the answer! Unfortunately, if the locks aren’t
changed, that can mean strangers who may have created copies of the previous
tenant’s keys would have access to your new home. You will also want to be sure
your unit has a deadbolt lock and that
you are aware of any additional safety features. For added security, you may
consider purchasing your own alarms and/or doorstop.
What is
the Lease Renewal Process Like?
Many
landlords will build automatic renewals into your lease or contract.
Oftentimes, they will require you to give notice within a certain timeframe if
you wish to leave after your initial term. If your lease is broken it can lead
to hefty
fees.
Is
Renters Insurance Required?
It’s
important to know that some landlords and leasing offices will require you to
obtain a renters insurance policy. If it is something that they require, they
will likely ask for proof of your policy prior to
your move-in date.
Whether
or not it’s required,
renters insurance is always a good investment. Renters insurance is surprisingly
inexpensive and extremely cost
effective. It provides liability coverage, world-wide contents coverage and
can assist with the necessary additional living costs you may acquire if you
were to be displaced in the event of a covered loss. Check out
the link below to learn more about obtaining a renters policy through NYCM Insurance and find an agent near
you. 
