It's equally important to find the right place to live as it is to choose a landlord.Before signing any lease paperwork, it's important to thoroughly check out the landlord and make sure you're comfortable working with him or her.It can be difficult to evaluate a potential landlord as there are a number of factors you have to consider.It is possible to get the information you need to make a good decision about whether or not to rent with a landlord.
Step 1: Call the landlord.
The first step in evaluating a landlord is to call the landlord.This discussion will give you a lot of information you can use to make a judgement about the landlord's character and professionalism.Did the landlord answer the phone on your first call?Is it difficult to get in touch with him or her?It may not bode well for the future if it was hard to get in touch with the landlord.Is the landlord willing to meet you at a convenient time?The landlord will probably carry this problem into their responsibilities with tenants if they are completely swamped.Is the landlord willing to talk to you?If the landlord doesn't communicate well, this could be a problem in the future.They may treat their tenants the same way if they were annoyed to talk to you.
Step 2: Meet the landlord.
You will want to set up a meeting with the landlord to view the property after making initial contact.You can get a lot of information from this initial meeting.Is the landlord on time?It is possible that the landlord will behave differently in the future when dealing with you as a tenant.The landlord was pleasant and motivated.The landlord may not be the best landlord in the world.They might not be motivated to take care of your needs as a tenant if they didn't seem interested in showing the property.Did the landlord communicate effectively?The landlord will be able to communicate their position now that you are meeting in person.They should be able to give you an idea of their policies.This could be a problem if the landlord doesn't say much.Proceed with care.
Step 3: Ask the landlord questions about the lease.
The best way to assess a landlord is to find out their business practices and policies.Before and after your meeting, make sure to inquire about a number of important things, such as how long the lease will last, and how much you will pay.Ask about the lengths of lease.There are deposit requirements.Ask about the rent schedule.If the landlord can't answer your questions, you should be cautious.
Step 4: You can learn about maintenance responsibilities.
One of the most important things to know about a landlord is their maintenance responsibilities.You need to ask a lot of questions about maintenance.Ask if you are responsible for maintaining the property.Ask about the landlord's responsibility in maintaining the property.In case of emergencies like plumbing leaks, wiring malfunction or power outages, the prospective landlord will put in place safeguards to protect you and the property.They can either contract with a maintenance company to deal with emergencies or handle them on their own.
Step 5: Evaluate property management companies.
In larger cities, landlords will delegate their tasks to companies whose responsibility is to manage a large number of properties at the same time.Property management companies make a living by collecting rent, lining up repairs, and negotiating rental agreements on behalf of the landlord.If you work with a property management company, you will never see the property owner.Talk with current tenants about the property management company and look at online reviews to get an idea of what you would like.
Step 6: There is a difference between property management companies and individual landlords.
If a property is managed by a large company, you will need to assess the benefits and pitfalls.The availability of services is a difference between landlords and property management companies.If you lock yourself out of your house at 3 a.m. on a Saturday, you may not be able to get in touch with a property management company.Landlords who only have a few properties may be quick to respond to issues.The quality of service is different.Property management companies can contract with professional maintenance people to handle repairs.It is possible that this will lead to maintenance requests being fixed sooner and in a more professional manner than if the individual landlord was making the repairs themselves.Individual landlords may spend more time fixing things right because they own the property and they want it to remain in the best shape possible.Cheap and fast repairs may be an incentive for property management companies to make.Property management companies tend to be more rule-oriented than individual landlords.Property management companies may not be willing to negotiate about the presence of pets or the payment of carpet cleaning fees.Individual landlords may be willing to work with you on certain issues.
Step 7: Take a closer look at the property.
The condition of the property can tell you a lot more about the landlord than you might think.You should look at the condition of the property.Pay attention to detail.Try to pay attention to the small things.Get an idea of how clean the property is.The landlord probably won't take care of a lot of little things if the property is dirty and looks like it has not been cleaned in a while.There is a general condition of major appliances and systems.Take a look at the system.If it doesn't look like it has been serviced, or if it looks very old, this may not bode well.Look for wood rot, broken windows, and roof leaks.The landlord may not take care of basic maintenance issues if the property has any of these problems.Take a look at whether the grounds are mowed, shrubs are cut, and dead tree limbs have been removed.
Step 8: If you can, talk to other tenants.
It is possible to get information about the quality of the landlord from talking to other tenants.Tenants can tell you how a landlord behaves in a professional relationship.If you are looking at a property in an apartment or townhome community, casually approach someone in the parking lot and ask if they live there.The person should be asked if they like the property and the landlord.Ask if maintenance is taken care of quickly.Ask if there are any problems with the landlord.Whether they can easily be reached by phone, how well they function in emergency situations and how personable they are should be included.Listen to how they say things.Some people don't want to criticize the landlord for fear of reprisal.Others may have a personal vendetta.When interpreting what other tenants say, use your best judgement.
Step 9: The landlord has owned the property.
It is important to find out how long the landlord has owned the property you are interested in renting.You can use this information to evaluate the landlord.If the landlord doesn't take care of obvious problems with the property, they will not fix them in the future.If the property has recently been purchased, the management may have changed.When evaluating information from previous or current residents, you need to take this into account.You might have more information if the landlord has owned the property for a long time.Talk to neighbors or people nearby to see how the property has been maintained over the years.
Step 10: Determine the size of the business.
To find out the size of the landlord's rental business, you should dig a little deeper.Some landlords just own a single rental property, while others may own hundreds or even thousands of properties.This is important in determining the type of person you will be dealing with if you decide to rent the property.You can use the internet to find the person's name, the business' name or the address of the property you want to rent.If the rental property is part of a larger organization, you should go from there.If the landlord has a website, it's a good idea to check it out.They might list other properties they own and rent.Ask the landlord how big their operation is and what other properties they own and/or manage.
Step 11: You can look online for reviews.
Depending on the type of property you are renting, there may be online reviews about your landlord.Online reviews can be used to learn about the character of your potential landlord.It's important to have this information in order to choose the right landlord.You can use the internet to find reviews of the landlord and business.It is possible to find reviews by current or past tenants.If you find reviews on a website, look for more.You should get a full and well-rounded view of your landlord and their current or past tenants.If the landlord has personal testimonials or reviews from past tenants, ask.You may be able to get valuable information from the reviews.
Step 12: You can check court records.
You can find out if your landlord has been involved in legal conflicts with past or current tenants by doing a search of court records.Whether successful or unsuccessful, lawsuits can give you a lot of information to help evaluate a landlord.To find out the name of the landlord you're evaluating, conduct a search of your county's public court records.You can evaluate a prospective landlord by looking at any claims filed against him by previous tenants or contract holders.If you know how closely the landlord follows laws governing property agreement and tenant rights, you should review complaints or actions taken.LexisNexis and local and national newspapers are academic search databases.You can find something that can help you evaluate the landlord.
Step 13: You should read your lease in detail.
A good understanding of your agreement is perhaps the most important part of understanding your relationship with a landlord.If you want to know every detail of your arrangement, you have to read your lease in detail.You can get a copy of the lease.Use a pencil and a highlighter to read it.You might not know what to highlight.The day of the month on which rent is due can be highlighted using a different color.Take a second to read your lease.If you have questions about the lease, you should consult a lawyer.
Step 14: Determine the policy.
You will want to find out the notification policy of the potential landlord.Notification is the amount of time a landlord must tell you before they enter the property.Notification is a point of contention between landlords and tenants.Before you sign a lease, make sure it is clear.Find out how much notice the landlord gives tenants before they enter the property for routine maintenance and upkeep.Laws in most states require landlords to give tenants written notice before entering an apartment, but many private landlords do not.
Step 15: If you become a tenant, you have rights.
Tenants are protected by a wide array of laws.Before you sign and lease, you should know your rights under the law.Knowing the law will allow you to make a better decision when evaluating a landlord.Before signing any paperwork with the landlord, you should review the laws governing landlord-tenant relationships.This information can be used to judge the landlord's practices regarding lease negotiations, property upkeep and communication.Make sure the landlord abides by the laws that protect you.You should not rent the property if their lease doesn't work out.You can find information about tenant rights laws in your state on the HUD portal.