{"id":29227,"date":"2023-05-06T10:15:48","date_gmt":"2023-05-06T10:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/the-dos-and-donts-when-searching-for-a-rental-online\/"},"modified":"2023-05-06T10:36:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T10:36:14","slug":"the-dos-and-donts-when-searching-for-a-rental-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/the-dos-and-donts-when-searching-for-a-rental-online\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dos and Donts When Searching for a Rental Online"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- SEO Ultimate Plus (https:\/\/seoultimateplus.com) - Code Inserter module -->\n<script async>(function(s,u,m,o,j,v){j=u.createElement(m);v=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0];j.async=1;j.src=o;j.dataset.sumoSiteId='b68b392479b5981b8acf46565e9fe32a0734fc21a1f7c1e60121eaa6ca1a1c64';v.parentNode.insertBefore(j,v)})(window,document,'script','\/\/load.sumo.com\/');<\/script>\n<!-- \/SEO Ultimate Plus -->\n\n<p>Choosing a rental property online requires skill and knowledge, especially since you\u2019re not searching virtually. In many cases, online apartment hunting can be a faster method of renting a house, but not always. Sometimes, this type of method can create problems that go beyond typical ones.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, with online searching, you only see what the landlords what to show you. While pictures can tell some of the story, they don\u2019t show everything you should see. A virtual apartment tour is worth much more, but it\u2019s not always an option for you.<\/p>\n<p>If that\u2019s the case, you must be cautious of the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts when renting online.<\/p>\n<p>So, before you sign a lease and pack up your things, there are some tips you should follow to ensure you find the perfect home, even if it\u2019s not done the traditional way.<\/p>\n<h2>Do\u2019s of Renting Sight Unseen<\/h2>\n<p>Depending on where you live, you might find many options or a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-to-rent\" title=\"rental properties\">rental properties<\/a> online. But how do you know you\u2019re making the right choice? To many, choosing a rental is more than just finding a place to live and having some amenities. That\u2019s why you must adhere to some essential dos before deciding.<\/p>\n<h3>Do Your Research<\/h3>\n<p>Each year, online apartment rental services in the U.S. experience an increase, and 2023 is no different. From 2018 to 2023,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibisworld.com\/industry-statistics\/market-size\/online-apartment-rental-services-united-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the annual market size growth was 7.9 per cent<\/a>, meaning many people have started to rely upon online tools to find their rental properties.<\/p>\n<p>However, online doesn\u2019t always bring realistic expectations, incredibly if you have researched enough. Getting as much information as possible is necessary. Initially, you can start by looking at the reviews, checking out the neighbourhood via Google Maps, or contacting potential neighbours who live in the area or building.<\/p>\n<p>Editing is the main reason you shouldn&#8217;t rely solely on pictures. Also, the chances of you looking at fake properties are high. Instead, try asking the landlord to send a video tour to give you the best perspective on your future home, so you can take that time to focus on all areas, even the nooks and corners.<\/p>\n<h3>Do Find Off-Site Tools<\/h3>\n<p>Although an on-site tour is always recommended, sometimes that\u2019s impossible. Whether it\u2019s due to work or other personal circumstances, there are some tools you can use to help your online search.<\/p>\n<p>As mentioned, you shouldn\u2019t depend on a property\u2019s pictures only. Besides asking your landlord for a tour video, you should also ask them for the layout blueprint to check the dimensions.<\/p>\n<p>Suppose you want to aid your online search further by viewing different proposals. In that case, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/rentberry.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an app to view the property you\u2019re interested in with 360\u00b0<\/a>\u00a0or video tours. This is an efficient and fast way of digitally going through your potential future home, plus it\u2019s safe.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, you can get in touch with the landlord via Skype or FaceTime, as this allows you to ask them questions during the \u2018\u2019tour.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<h3>Do Stay Within Your Budget<\/h3>\n<p>One of the biggest dos\u2019s you should aim for is to stay within your budget, even if it may seem challenging. Sometimes you may find the perfect property, but it\u2019s probably not worth it if you&#8217;re overspending.<\/p>\n<p>As a rule of thumb, you should\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/collections\/affordable-housing-supply\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spend 30 per cent of your income on rent monthly<\/a>. This works because by spending only 30 per cent, you\u2019re likely to have plenty of money left for other expenses.<\/p>\n<p>However, you should also consider your financial situation because the rule may only work for some. Take time to sort out your budget and start looking for a rental. In the end, stick with what works for you.<\/p>\n<h3>Do Read the Lease Agreement<\/h3>\n<p>We\u2019ll admit it; reading contracts is no fun, let alone a lease agreement. Statistics show that only\u00a025 per cent of tenants read the lease\u00a0before signing it. Still, it\u2019s something you should carefully read because it has a significant effect on your life. Doing so gives a clear idea of what it\u2019s expected from you and vice versa.<\/p>\n<p>The lease includes everything, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How much notice the landlord gives you before entering your property<\/li>\n<li>How do you need to maintain the unit<\/li>\n<li>What you\u2019re allowed to do or keep<\/li>\n<li>The conditions which could lead to a lease termination<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Knowing what you legally agree to is much better than having unpleasant surprises down the road.<\/p>\n<h2>Don\u2019ts of Renting Sight Unseen<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you know what to do in your next rental hunt, it\u2019s time to tackle the don\u2019ts to prevent future damage. As a first-time renter, you should be aware of many things, but here are the most obvious ones:<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u2019t Throw Caution Away<\/h3>\n<p>Even if you\u2019ve found the perfect rental and nothing seems sketchy, you shouldn\u2019t throw caution to the wind yet. First, ensure you have the lease agreement in writing so that if something isn\u2019t right, you have proof of what you were promised before moving in.<\/p>\n<p>This may seem unnecessary and excessive, but renting online can be dangerous, not to mention it could save you from renting a place that doesn\u2019t fit your needs and standards.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u2019t Shy Away from Asking Questions<\/h3>\n<p>The best renters are the ones who don\u2019t forget to ask questions about their potential home. After all, choosing a place to live is a life-changing decision, so asking many questions is not odd.<\/p>\n<p>When you get in touch with the landlord or management company, you should be able to trust them professionally. Additionally, you can ask them questions such as how and why the previous tenant left the unit or if there have been any recent updates on the property.<\/p>\n<p>If you have a pet or car, ask them whether you can have a pet or a free parking space. Or, if the price doesn\u2019t fit your budget, you can also try negotiating it and ask them if they\u2019re willing to trade something for a lower rent.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u2019t Sign a Long-Term Lease<\/h3>\n<p>Renting online is one thing, but signing a long-term lease can be dangerous if you\u2019re not cautious enough. That\u2019s why signing a short-term lease agreement can keep you from a rental you no longer want to live in. Although this type of lease can be more expensive, they\u2019re a better option because you can quit it anytime.<\/p>\n<p>The thing with long-term leases is they don\u2019t allow you to opt out of it immediately. However, if you\u2019re confident you\u2019ve made the right decision, you can ask your landlord to switch to a long-term lease.<\/p>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Ref: 3335.28793<\/span><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Choosing a rental property online requires skill and knowledge, especially since you\u2019re not searching virtually. In many cases, online apartment hunting can be a faster method of renting a house, but not always. Sometimes, this type of method can create<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/the-dos-and-donts-when-searching-for-a-rental-online\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":29226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wl_entities_gutenberg":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"wl_entity_type":[602],"modified_by":"Editor","_wl_alt_label":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Untitled-3.png","wl:entity_url":"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/post\/the-dos-and-donts-when-searching-for-a-rental-online","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29227"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29227"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29230,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29227\/revisions\/29230"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29227"},{"taxonomy":"wl_entity_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wl_entity_type?post=29227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}