How to Avoid Being Scammed When Renting an Apartment

When you’re looking to rent an apartment, the most critical thing you need to be wary of is scams. There’s plenty of people out there looking to scam others, which is why you need to be careful.

If you’re interested in knowing all the essential tips you need that will help you avoid getting scammed when renting an apartment, then read on.

●     The likeliest people to get scammed are those aged 18 to 29

This information is something you should remember, especially if you fall within this age group. It’s most likely because millennials often look for everything online. That’s why you should make sure to inspect everything in person and talk to the landlord to see what kind of a person they are.

●        The money

When it comes to money, there are several things you need to know. The most apparent scams are those involving apartments that are listed well below their market value. Then you have the landlords that are looking for a lot of money upfront. You need to be careful with these because many of such cases can end up being a fraud.

●        False claims about the apartment

Many landlords are not looking to rob you but are still looking to rent you a place that’s not at all worth the money you’re paying. The usual way they do this is by giving false claims about a property that eventually end up being incorrect. That’s why it’s essential to visit an apartment and check everything yourself.

●        Many scammers attempt to rent a place that’s not theirs

Yes, that’s a common thing. Many scammers copy out an ad for an apartment that already got leased. You can avoid this by checking if the condo is listed somewhere else and you can also look at the tax records to make sure that the owner is not someone else.

●        Make sure the place is real

Another reason to visit the home is to make sure it exists. However, sometimes you can’t. If you’re moving from somewhere far away, you can’t always visit a place first. You needn’t worry if you can’t as there are other ways of checking if an ad for an apartment is real. You can check the company or landlord online, and you can also use Skype or FaceTime to see the apartment and the person you’re dealing with and make sure it’s all legitimate.

Additional Advice You Should Consider

●        Using cash is a bad sign for renting.

●        Always use written leases which you can sign. You can sign leases over the web as well, but both parties that sign the contract need to use a valid e-signature service.

●        The lease you’re signing must adequately identify the owner of the place so you can make sure it’s the person you’re dealing with.

●        Always do enough research before signing anything and moving in. Google the landlord or the company leasing the place, and the site itself, as well as the market rates, so you know the home is worth the money.

With all of these tips and advice, you will now know how to spot a scam when searching for a new place to rent.

What Should I Look for When Renting an Apartment?

Renting an apartment is not a simple matter of looking at ads and finding the one you like the most. There’s a lot more to it than that.

As that’s the case, we wanted to give you a complete guide of the things you should look for before moving.

1. Make sure the price is right.

We are sure that you know what you can afford and what you can’t, but you still need to plan your budget carefully.  Consider your income, to ensure it can cover rent and all the other monthly costs, you’ll have, including food. Then make sure a sizeable chunk is left out which you can add to your savings. Also, don’t forget that the whole move and most likely the first entire month will cost you a lot more than the rest of the months, as there’s the security deposit, paying the movers, buying things, and more.

2. Check everything in the apartment before taking it.

You need to properly inspect an apartment before paying for anything, signing any documents, and finally moving in. These things include checking if every appliance, plumbing, and lights work. At the same time, check that everything necessary – the ones you’ll need all the time (electricity, water, the toilet, shower, etc.) are present. Make sure you check that the cell reception is good as well. That’s a common thing many people forget to check. Check if the windows open – it might seem silly, but it’s another thing that people don’t consider and end up without proper ventilation or an escape route in case of a fire.

3. Make sure the heating works

Ensure that the thermostat works well and that the apartment’s heating system is the one you want and need.

4. Check the bathroom and kitchen

These two areas in an apartment are the ones that encounter the most usage and the ones that can sustain the most damage that will reduce their value. That’s precisely why you need to check both of these areas very carefully and make sure everything in them works correctly. Also, make sure that there’s no damage, mould, and more. If you notice something that’s not right, you can easily convince the owner to fix everything otherwise you won’t move in.

5. Be careful with the landlord

If the owner of the apartment appears too eager to rent you the place – be careful. That can often mean that something’s not right. The main thing to know here though is that if the landlord doesn’t seem right to you, then don’t take the apartment. Look for another one.

6. Check the walls and the neighbours

The apartment might be great, but that doesn’t mean the neighbours are. Be in the condo for a while when first visiting to see if the walls are too thin which means that you’ll hear everything. Furthermore, see what the neighbours are like. Are they loud? Are they problematic? These things are always important when living in a building with a lot of neighbours.

There you have it, the most important things you need to worry about before renting an apartment. If all of this checks out, and possibly a few other things that might come to mind, you’ll end up getting a great apartment.