How to choose where to rent
Many times, we want a nice apartment but we are always in a rush and end up getting any roof to cover our heads without considering quality. Before you make payments for an apartment make sure that you are getting the real deal.
According to Ms Christine Mutibwa, who rents a house, says when looking for an apartment, one should look out for spacious and easy to clean rooms like bathrooms and the kitchen.
“I was lucky that time I needed a place to rent, a friend of mine got me a house with everything that I wanted. The kitchen had simple surfaces, shelves and cabinets which are so easy to clean,” she says.
She adds that whoever is looking for an apartment is that they should be mindful of the surrounding. It should not be near slums but in a place with nice buildings. Below are other things to look out for when renting an apartment
Size matters
According to Mr Paul Munaba, a broker in Kawempe, the size of an apartment matters a lot because the individual taste varies from one person to another. Some people want a separate bedroom for children while others prefer a spacious bedroom to share with their children.
“On many occasions, we have challenges looking for an apartment that suits the interest of the client. You move to a good number of them and the client fails to get the one he or she wants,” he explains.
Location
Is the apartment near the road, shops, and your workplace? Most people look out for a place which is near the road, grocery or close to their workplace so that they don’t over spend on transport.
Neighbourhood
A good neighbourhood is what makes the place worth living in, in the first place. Before you embark on searching for an apartment, remember to ensure that the place is free of noisy or quarrelsome tenants. Don’t choose the place just because it is nice if it’s not in a serene place.
Security
Consider the safety of you family and property. You don’t want to come from work and find that thieves broke into your apartment and swept the whole house clean.
The landlord
This is probably one of the things that tenants ignore. They are always quick to get an apartment without considering the landlord’s reputation.
Before sealing the deal, first make an underground investigation on your prospective landlord so that you don’t end up regretting when it’s too late.
“As a tenant, your trust entirely depends on the kind of person the landlord is. You could also ask the occupants about the character of that person so that you know how to deal with him,” Mr Munaba says.
The cost
Some people have a tendency of looking for apartments that are beyond what their pockets can afford. Move around and compare prices in your area. It might be less or more depending on where you reside.
Apartments in the town may be more costly than others. Ensure that you get an apartment that is within your range without forgetting the bills of other facilities such as water and electricity.
Size of the rooms
You should have in mind the size of the rooms you want. Probably, you don’t have children yet and you need small rooms. Spacious rooms like bathroom, dining, and reading rooms could be of help, especially if you are the kind that is always hosting friends. If you want to add an extra room for something, make sure you consult the landlord because chances are he will not want it.
Condition of the house
Some apartments are really in a bad shape and could easily cost you a lot. There is a habit by owners to wait for the occupants to renovate or repair some broken items in the house.
Also, hygiene is important, the cleaner the place the better. Things like poor drainage are what the owner ought to fix. Ms Mutibwa advises one to check on the outstanding bills such as that of electricity and water with the landlord to ensure that they are cleared before he or she enters the house.
“Some outgoing tenants don’t clear certain bills leaving the burden to the prospective occupant. You have to be smart and sort this out or else you end up footing the bills instead of the other person,” she says.
Terms and conditions
One would wonder what is wrong with landlord when he denies them occupancy because you have children. But you have to understand reasons for such an action.
The reason could be simple; they had a bad experience with one of the tenants. Some landlords don’t allow tenants with children and others simply hate visitors.
So, if you are the kind who likes hosting visitors who sleep over, you might have to look for another place. Consider these aspects so as to get the residence of your dreams.
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