Looking For the Perfect Rental Home? These 8 Great Tips Will Help!

We often think about renting a small home. However, did you know that an average apartment is about 882 square feet and the average rent per person is $1,124? It is a large amount of money for such small spaces.

So, why would anyone rent when they can buy a home for a few thousand dollars per month? There are many reasons someone might choose to rent instead of buying a house. They rent because:

1. They don’t have enough money to make a down payment
2. Their credit score doesn’t allow them to pay enough
3. The coronavirus pandemic
4. Some don’t want to own a home at the moment

You might not have the money to buy a house right now, but you don’t need to live in cramped quarters too.

Renting a house is still a great option. Indeed, you cannot rent a house to enjoy the benefits of owning it (more space, privacy, etc.), but also you won’t have to worry about repairs or to stay in the same spot for many decades.

Discussed below are some great ways that can help you find a rental house.

• First, List the Features You Want In Your Rental Home

The very first thing to do is to make a list of the features you want in your rental home. Your family’s size, your needs, and your desires will all affect the list.

Make sure you create a list that suits your personal needs. The following are important things to keep in mind when creating the list:

1. Are you looking for full bathrooms?
2. Are you looking for a home office?
3. Is a yard desirable?
4. Are you looking for off-street parking (garage, driveway)?
5. Are you looking for a deck or patio?
6. Are you looking for gas service for your stove?
7. Are you looking for a fireplace?

• Start Searching For Your Rental Home 60 Days Prior To Moving

Real estate experts say that the best rentals are found earlier in the month. It is because they have better amenities, prices, and locations. If you’re looking for a rental property, it’s best to begin searching 60 days before your move.

The busiest weekends are the second and third weekends. However, you will find less competition and still have the best properties if you begin your search on the first weekend.

• Search for Online Rental Listings

Renting houses can be made easy through online rental sites. These are some of the top rental listing websites:

1. HotPads
2. PadMapper
3. Apartments.com
4. Realtor.com
5. Craigslist
6. Rent.com
7. Facebook Marketplace

To find houses in your local area, you should use the main search function of the websites. You can then limit your search criteria using the location and basic information about rentals. However, you can also use additional filters such as:

1. Leasing length
2. Pets are allowed or not
3. Income restrictions
4. There is a security deposit or not
5. Which amenities are included?

• A Real Estate Agent Can Help!

A real estate agent can help you find a house to rent in any location. Sometimes they are the only way for you to find rentals in metropolitan areas. A real estate office may also offer property management services. Agents could also look at properties they manage to find vacancies or ask for leads from other offices.

A great advantage to hiring a real agent is their extensive network. Their office might not be vacant, but they could have clients moving in and don’t necessarily want their home to sell. That’s when you jump in a rent their home.

• Drive Through and Try To Find a Rental Home in Your Desired Neighborhood

Drive through are not just for sightseeing. Take a walk around your desired neighborhood you are interested in next time you go for a drive. You might find signs advertising “House for Rent.”

It is a great option for college towns, public transportation hubs, hospitals, shopping centers, and tourist destinations (near mountains, beaches, and theme parks).

• Look Out For Rental Home Ads in Local Newspapers

For advertising rental properties, people still use their local newspapers. The best thing about the newspaper is that it doesn’t have to be limited to your local newspaper.

Let’s suppose you are looking for rental properties and want to move across the country. While you will most likely use online tools to locate houses, national newspapers such as The Washington Post, NY Daily News, and The Philadelphia Inquirer can also be used to help you find homes.

• Don’t Forget the Local Bulletin Boards

Bulletin boards are a great alternative to Facebook if you don’t want to create a Facebook account or you don’t want to waste your time looking through Craigslist ads.

Nearly every post office, library, and community center will have a bulletin board where residents can post ads for different things, including houses for rent.

Also, you must exercise caution when contacting these ads for your safety and your wallet.

• Find Houses That Are Not Selling

But how? You can search on free sites like Redfin or Trulia for homes that are new or have had their prices drop. You can also search For Sale by Owner.

Contact the agent if you are interested in renting the house. Many homeowners are already homeowners and cannot afford a second mortgage.

There are Many Options to Find Rental Homes

Finding a rental house is difficult because it can be hard to find houses within your budget that are safe and offer the amenities and features that you value most. There are many rental homes available, and not only houses. You have many options if you are unable to find the right house.

It doesn’t really matter what type of structure you live within; all that matters is that you have a place you call home.