Looking for a Landlord

Don't Settle for a Sneaky Landlord

About a year ago I met my honey, my love, and in just a few short weeks we'll get married. Even though I'm sickeningly happy and would love to leap around every day in my wedding dress spouting poetry, I've found myself staggering under a very long (seemingly unending) list of things to get done before that day, and this keeps my feet well grounded. Just one of those to-do items is housing.

I've rented several college-town apartments before, but this type of apartment shopping is a lot more stressful. It even comes with it's own list of things to check for and set up.

Let's take a look at just one: the landlord.

When renting out a new place, you have to understand that the landlord will have a lot of say in how you decorate, when you pay your bills, how many bills you have to pay, and whether or not your broken sink gets fixed tomorrow or two months in the future. It's pretty obvious that you shouldn't settle for someone who will make your time in the apartment a nightmare. So, search for these 5 attributes and preferences in your potential landlord.

1. Type of Landlord - What They Own

Your landlord could own an entire complex of over a hundred apartments or just a single unit, and there are going to be given advantages and disadvantages in each scenario. For example, renting under a corporation could mean that you deal with several people or that management switches hands during your lease. But having a corporate landlord means you can also look up reviews online and seek advice from fellow tenants who deal with the same issues as you.

Renting from someone who owns just a single unit usually means more personal service. However, they will also likely be stricter on upkeep and decoration rules since they've probably lived there once and want to sell the place in the future. Simply decide which advantages are most important to you.

2. Friendly and Approachable Personality

I'm not suggesting he or she should invite you over for Sunday dinners every week. But choosing an approachable landlord will make problem solving much easier. Let me illustrate.

I toured an apartment just a few days ago. The place was spacious, affordable, and in a good location. Management even had several spots opening up in the next few weeks. However, when talking with the manager, she was only slightly less than abrasive. While inquiring about price, parking rules, and other details, I soon asked a question that made her literally throw her head back and laugh at the simple yes-or-no question. I immediately took up a defensive stance, and the rest of the visit wasn't much better. I left feeling sour.

Basically, if you cannot chat with your landlord for five minutes without strongly disagreeing and stepping on each other's toes, try looking elsewhere for everyone's sanity.

3. Organization

Having good organizational skills isn't really something you boast about, but when your landlord is lacking in this area, you could be paying theprice. A close friend once complained to me about how her landlady was so disorganized that she frequently lost her tenants rent checks and could almost never remember who needed what fixed. Just applying for the apartment took several weeks since the landlady kept losing my friend's application.

In order to avoid similar problems and future arguments with the owner, take note of how organized they are and if they reply quickly to your inquiries. If you know they're very disorganized, but you'd like to rent anyway, plan ahead for potentially unreliable service and make sure to get a receipt of every payment you make.

4. Landlord - Specific Rules

Every landlord has a different set of rules that the tenants have to live by. Just because one allows you to house your 12 cats, that doesn't mean the next lender will even allow you to keep a single goldfish. Before signing any lease, review the landlord's rules. There might be a few on the list that will quickly make living there difficult - and expensive! A misstep could result in you losing the apartment.

5. Upfront Costs

Yet another item that varies from landlord to landlord is upfront costs. Some require application fees while others don't, and some will ask that you pay first and last month's rent along with an application fee and security deposit before moving in. While shopping, be sure to ask about these costs. Depending on your financial situation, covering everything they ask for at that moment might not be feasible.

Is This Really a Priority?

Although it's important to look for these key traits, also remember that you might not have a lot of say in who your landlord is. In some areas, renting is extremely competitive and simply getting someone to choose you as a new tenant might be its own struggle.

Still, take landlords into account. When faced with a decision between two or three apartments or houses, consider who you'll be renting from to avoid being stuck with your new worst enemy. Choosing to rent from an owner who is reasonable, friendly, and always on top of things could be one of the best decisions you make in shopping for the perfect home.

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