Rental Viewing Checklist for the Savvy Renter

There are endless things to consider when viewing a place to rent, so it makes sense that you’d be likely to forget a thing or two—unless you prepare beforehand. To that end, having a rental viewing checklist of things you want to look out for would be good idea.

Before you start thinking that that is way too much effort for a simple viewing, keep in mind that you risk having to pay for numerous maintenance bills and having to put up with your very own living nightmare (pun intended) if you overlook something.

Hence, don’t be afraid to take more than the usual 15 minutes for your viewing, or even to request for a second viewing. Here are some things that you should take note of:

External characteristics of the property and its area:

Take some time to scout the area around your potential home before the viewing; this way, you can ask the landlord or agent more specific questions. Look out for:

Accessibility

• Is there parking available on the premises?
• Are there additional charges for parking, or any other conditions?
  • Some properties only allow one or two vehicles to be registered to an apartment. This would be particularly important if you were living with multiple roommates.
• How accessible is the area via public transport?
• If you frequently use public transportation, don’t make an exception when you head for viewings. That will give you a better idea of what a normal day’s commute to the property is like.

Amenities

• What stores are nearby? How far away is the nearest supermarket?
• Are there any schools nearby?
• Are there any ongoing or upcoming developments in the area?

Asking about the nearest supermarket may seem like overkill, but trust me, when you’ve run out of milk in the middle of the night, you wouldn’t want to take twenty minutes to get to the store. Aside from that, nearby schools may be a boon in the eyes of many, especially families with children, but many don’t take into account the increased morning traffic, noise levels, and the occasional crowds from school carnivals.

You might be in for a nasty surprise if you aren’t aware of any developments going on in the area of your new home; the noise of construction can be very disruptive, and the dust that it generates can blow into your home if it’s nearby.

Garden

• Is there a garden?
• Who is responsible for its maintenance?

Neighbors

Neighbors can be the greatest source of information on the property—either because you wouldn’t want neighbours like them, or because they can tell you all about what’s happened in the neighborhood, including any quirks your landlord has that you should know about.

Try to have a chat with them if you happen to see them, or ask the landlord what they’re like.

Security

• Does the property seem secure?
• Ask the agent/landlord if there have been burglaries in the area in the past

The Apartment Itself

Condition

• What condition are the floors and walls in?
• Are there any signs of flaking paint, infestations, or general wear and tear?
• Are there any items that are broken?

Utilities

• Do all the lights work?
  • Is there any loose or dodgy wiring?
• Do all the taps work?
  • Check their water pressure and make sure they aren’t leaky
• Is there air-conditioning?
  • Does it work well?
  • Who is responsible for cleaning the air-conditioning filters?
• Do the kitchen appliances and stove work?
  • Is the fridge working well? Does it smell bad?
• Does the water heater work?
• Does the toilet flush properly?
• Are there sufficient power outlets and are they conveniently located?
• Is there Wi-Fi?
  • Check the strength of the Wi-Fi signal in both the common areas and your room
• Are there laundry facilities?
  • Are they free to use?

It’s important that you and your landlord are on the same page regarding the condition of the apartment and its utilities; you wouldn’t want to be wrongly accused of damaging something and end up having to pay for repairs.

Leeway to decorate

Some landlords can be very strict about the condition in which the property is returned to them. Check with them, to what extent you can decorate the apartment to your liking, such as repainting the walls.

Window Placement

• Are there enough windows?
• Which direction do they face?
• Do they let in enough natural light?

Payment

• Other than rent, are there any other bills or maintenance fees you need to pay?
• How much deposit is required?
  • Under what circumstances will the deposit be forfeited?
• How long does the lease agreement run for?
  • At which point can the landlord increase the rent, and by how much?
• Who is the point of contact for maintenance requests?
  • What is the typical response time for these requests?
• What happens if one of the appliances breaks down?

It’s important to clarify all issues before committing to anything, especially if they are of financial nature. Depending on how watertight your contract is, it can be extremely difficult to back out of the contract once signed, in case you discover some less-than-ideal traits of the apartment that you previously overlooked.

At the end of the day, ask yourself if you can envision yourself living there. If the answer is a definite no, then even if it checks off every item on this rental viewing checklist, it’s best to listen to your instincts. This list is simply meant to help you along the decision-making process.