My husband and I have been renters and are soon going to become landlords to a home we are buying and renting out in the next couple of months! Renting can be nice, but it can also be stressful living in someone else’s home! I really enjoyed this guest post from Darci Maxwell where she shares with us How to have Peace of Mind as a renter!
There are little gives and takes in life, especially when it comes to renting property. On one hand, there is the freedom that comes with choosing to rent your living space. Aside from timed lease agreements, moving wherever you want to is much less of a hassle when you are renting, because you won’t have a mortgage tying you to any particular place. However, on the other hand, there is less freedom that you have when it comes to actually living in the place you are paying for. It is rare that property managers will allow you to alter too much of the property, and it is always easy to stumble upon a fine for damaged walls or dirty carpet. However, every renter deserves to have a strong peace of mind, regardless of where they are living. Here are some things to think about, regarding that peace of mind…
How to Have Peace of Mind as a Renter
Personalizing your rental within your lease agreement
One thing that every person needs to do in the place they are living is make it a little bit of their own. If you fail to personalize your apartment or rental house during the time you are living there, then it will always feel like you are living in someone else’s home. However, this is no way to live, and not something that any renter should have to settle for! Take a look at your lease agreement and discuss with your property manager what sorts of things you are allowed to do in the home. Sometimes, landlords are very lenient on what you are allowed to do, such as hang things from the ceiling, replace light fixtures, or even paint entire walls a different color. However, there are times when none of these things may be allowed. By keeping an open conversation with your property manager may make them more trusting of you. In the case that you can’t paint your walls, you can often find things to do, like buy new shutters that you can personalize yourself, so that you don’t ruin anything that belongs to the property.here’s a good article on tips to stay sane while you are moving from one place to another.
Moving in and out of your rental, safely
When you move out of your apartment, one of the biggest expenses that may sneak up on you is fines that you have to pay, due to damages that were made to the property. While many damages are just the side effect of a place being lived in for so long, one of the most common ways that these damages happen is, ironically, in the process of moving in and out. For this reason, it is worth it to be especially careful when moving in or out of a property that you are renting. Sometimes, it may even be worth it to hire movers who tend to be very efficient at this sort of thing. Being able to take a deep breath while you are moving is a luxury that people deserve to have. For more information, here’s a good article on tips to stay sane while you are moving from one place to another.
Get renters’ insurance
There are all sorts of damages that can happen to a property while you are living in it. Most of these damages are simply chronic side effects of living there, and can’t be avoided. These are to be expected. However, there are times when life throws you a curveball, something that you simply could not have predicted. Sometimes, this can come in the form of a natural disaster, such as a flood or a fire, or it can be in the form of another person, such as theft or vandalism. Regardless of any of these types of damages, there is a way to ensure that you, as a renter, are protected from financial liability. This protection comes in the form of renters’ insurance. Having renters’ insurance is a great way to take away some of the strain of living in a space that belongs to somebody else. It also protects your life from being ruined by many unforeseen circumstances. Here is a good article on some of the benefits of renters’ insurance.
Keep open communication with property manager
Many people tend to think of their property managers and landlords as their enemies; as sorts of villains of their lives. While some certainly may fit this description, it’s important to remember that landlords are just people, like you or me. Treat them as such, and your relationship with them will be much more fulfilling. Any time you are worried about damages that have been done in your living space, Talk to them. Any time you are thinking of doing a little work on the apartment, talk to them. By keeping an open line of communication, they will be far more willing to work with you on anything that you are concerned about.
