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Rentwise! Chapter One -- Where To Look
Ask current landlord about her other units
Ask friends and coworkers
Check Sunday classified ads on Saturday night
Check under Real Estate Management in the yellow pages
Call apartment complexes listed in yellow pages
Pick up copy of Apartment Guides
Ask residents in neighborhoods you like
Drive around and look for signs
WHY TO LOOK AROUND:
People get stuck in particular neighborhoods out of habit. Be open to change. Expand your search. Driving around gives you perspective on rental rates. Don't automatically eliminate certain neighborhoods. If you take time to really look, you'll probably be happier with your choice and stay longer. If you love the place but get bad vibes from the landlord, keep looking.
QUESTIONS TO ASK ON PHONE:
Amount of rent and deposit?
# of bedrooms and baths?
General condition of unit?
Kind of heat and winter bill?
Neighborhood, school, bus line?
Length of lease?
Credit requirements?
Application fee?
Pets? Garage? Lawn care?
Storage space? Laundry?
When available? When see it?
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LANDLORD MAY ASK ON PHONE:
Income? (Give gross monthly
income of house-hold, not
hourly wage!)
Where do you work & how
long?
Will your credit check out?
Bankruptcy or eviction?
Where do you live and for
how long?
Who is your landlord?
Will she give you a reference?
Married?
How many kids?
How old?
What about child care?
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PREPARE TO "SELL YOURSELF"
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