Flower Love
The decision is on the table: you rent a seat. It is the first and most important step towards the independence that everyone wants.
Before you move in, you should solve many important questions and consider all the “tricks” for a successful rental process.
Calculate and plan ahead
Budgeting is the ultimate limitation of a perfect rental choice. If you are aware of your financial standing in finding the right apartment, you can avoid the stress of realizing that you have no way of covering your long-term rent or that you can afford insane upfront fees and security deposits. You and your landlord should put all cards on the table and discuss any additional collection or restoration costs openly.
Image source: SIR development
Compare your income and expenses (don’t forget to include taxes) and make sure the rent does not cost more than 30% of your annual income. That way, you can generate savings and secure enough credit to make bigger buying decisions (not to mention proper saving habits make life easier in many ways). The end result will be a painless move-in and relief from all payment concerns.
Image source: Susan Hoffman
Tips for finding the ideal house / apartment
The process is very simple as long as you know where to look. There are many different ways to find the right house or apartment. Some people prefer to establish direct communication with the owner or browse the internet and make a decision based on photos. Others who have neither the will nor the time to seek employ brokers to quit the job. Brokers are an excellent idea as long as you have a specific neighborhood selected to check out.
Image source: Danish Custom Homes
The most trustworthy method is to ask people you know and listen to their recommendations. When hunting, make sure everyone around you knows what you’re looking for. This way you make sure that all leads come to you.
Sometimes even traditional methods can suffice. There are many people out there who believe that having a simple poster on their windows will make the perfect deal they’ll get. Some of them use the help of local shops and cafes or hand out flyers on the street.
Make sure this is the right neighborhood
Visit each apartment several times and get familiar with life in that particular neighborhood. At best, go daily and at night and try to interact with potential neighbors who might give you important information. Explore the restaurants, parking lots and shopping malls, as well as the availability of public transport. Do not make a final decision until you are sure that it is a safe and enjoyable neighborhood to live in.
Image source: eco-homes
Summarize and prepare your personal information
The signing of a rental agreement involves various confidentialities and security checks. Be ready to have your full background and balance checked. Before applying for a lease, you will be asked to provide personal documentation such as your ID card, social security number, or even employment history records to review some of the most recent payments (with no work experience, you will most likely be expected to invite a co-signer, the rental guarantee is paid every month).
Image source: Windstar Homes, Inc.
Decorate your new place
The fact that this is not your place and you are simply renting it doesn’t have to prevent you from applying a “homely” touch. The more you invest in the comfort of your place, the nicer the atmosphere becomes.
Image source: Jackson design and remodeling
We recommend that you start personalizing with small and simple projects. Big changes or permanent restorations are not welcome as you never know how the owner might react. Also, make sure everything you do meets the terms of the rental agreement (if painting the walls is against the terms, don’t!). There are still many methods of decorating that are cheap and affordable that have not been restricted by the owner.
Big time investment in functional parts
The most common problem tenants face is being constantly on the move. With that in mind, it is always better to buy functional items that will suit whatever place you are in than to buy luxury furniture designed for a specific type of room. It’s a wise decision that will relieve you of the burden of selling or giving up your expensive accessories.
Image source: Santana Interiors
There are many items that meet user-friendliness requirements: you can buy modular sofas, folding armchairs, coffee tables with gate legs, or flexible shelves.
Use the colors that you like
A good thing about landlords is that they are willing to make changes as long as you keep your promise and get the place back to its original shape. For example, you can always paint the walls with your favorite color.
If you don’t want to make such a large investment, you should paint the door or window frames, or just decorate wallpaper. Applying paint is never a bad decision as it is cheap, simple, and brings vibrancy to your living space.
Image source: Kieran Liebl, CPBD
Masterwork is never enough – don’t hesitate to overdo it!
Not being allowed to paint the walls of their home is the worst news for artistic souls. If you’re one of those who likes to be surrounded by bold colors rather than the calming beige, we recommend some oversized DIY artwork or removable wallpaper and large posters.
Image source: Howden Homes
Update your window covering
The image of a rental apartment is often associated with dusty curtains and heavy, depressing drapes. It almost feels like chasing away the lackluster windows, reminding you of the people who have inhabited the place before. You need to solve this problem quickly and choose a pair of nice, fresh curtains (or put on handy roller shutters).
Image source: 27 diamonds interior design
Plants are an excellent way to cover up the shortcomings of your place
Cleverly placed plants can be the ultimate solution to masking flaws and drawbacks. In addition, plants can bring a fresh breeze into your living space and create a feeling of liveliness and goods.
Image source: Salt Interiors Joinery
Carpets, carpets and even more carpets
One thing is that landlords pay more attention to functionality than beautiful appearances. There’s a good chance you’ll find scratched laminate or a dusty rug that isn’t “at its best”. Fortunately, you can always add a few soft and cozy rugs to the texture of the place.
Image source: Landry & Arcari rugs and carpeting
Don’t lose track of the changes you’ve made
Don’t think that landlords leave everything to the situation. Everything you see or experience in your new place has been carefully planned and predicted. There’s no reason why this shouldn’t apply to bug hiding – what you want to cover has already been covered! What you need to make sure is that none of this is your fault.
You need to keep track of any changes made (from new lightbulbs to key door lights) and keep items in their original shape as you move out. This is the only way to be absolutely sure that you will get your deposit back.
Image source: Alexandra Rae interior design
Always look on the bright side
Be honest – you can never get equally excited decorating a rented space that actually belongs to you. However, don’t let this lack of motivation stop you from ensuring a more comfortable everyday life. Remember that decorating a rented space is less stressful and serious and can use up all of your positive energy.
Unlike your friends who live at home and struggle to save up for a tolerable kitchen, you can do fun experiments and bring used items for a vintage experience. Also, what goes wrong is not your responsibility (the microwave has failed? There is nothing you can do about it!).
Image source: FJU photography