5 Essential Home Viewing Tips For Prospective Tenants
The stakes are high if you’re looking for a new rental home, so you’ll no doubt want to make the best possible decisions. With this in mind, it’s worth paying attention to the following five tips before your next property viewing. They should help you to establish whether a house or flat is really right for you.
Take a close look at the condition of the property
As well as examining the fixtures and fittings of a property, it’s important to take a close look at its basic condition. If you’re not careful, you could miss a whole range of problems that make living in the home difficult or unpleasant. For example, insurance and tenant referencing specialists HomeLet note that it’s a good idea to check for the signs of damp under windows, on ceilings and in corners.
The company also recommends inspecting window frames and floorboards for signs of rot and suggests examining any cracks in the walls. While hairline cracks are common and aren’t usually anything to worry about, any cracks that are big enough to fit a coin in could be a cause for concern.
Pay attention to storage
Unless you’re prepared to put up with clutter, you’ll need enough storage in your new home to accommodate all the belongings you intend to bring. So, make sure you take a close look at any existing storage solutions in the property to see if they offer enough space and, where storage is lacking, take measurements of the available space to see what size of storage units you could install yourself.
Ask lots of questions
Don’t be shy when it comes to asking questions. Whether you’re being shown around the property by a landlord or letting agent, you should use this opportunity to get more in-depth information on a whole range of issues. You may want to ask anything from what the council tax band is, to how much energy bills generally cost, to whether there are any problematic neighbours. Also, if there’s a garden, make sure you find out whose responsibility it is to maintain it.
Research the local area
It’s essential that you research the local area too. This will help ensure that you have a good idea of what it’s like to actually live there. From the availability and safety of parking, to the reputation of local schools, to the distance to amenities and transport links, you should be able to get a lot of information online. If you can’t find the answer to any of your questions, make a note of them and ask the landlord or letting agent during your viewing.
If possible, take someone else with you
Even if you’re moving into a new house or flat by yourself, it’s a good idea to take a trusted family member or friend with you on a viewing if this is possible. They might spot issues that you miss, and it’s also useful to have someone there to bounce ideas off and discuss your initial impressions with.
It’s natural to feel under pressure when you go on property viewings, but by being methodical and making sure you know exactly what to look for, you should be able to make sound decisions using these home viewing tips.
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