7 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lease
Tenants are anxious to find the perfect home and often feel at the mercy of a landlord, which for military families under strict time constraints, can lead them to make unwanted concessions when signing a lease.
Take a deep breath and make sure that you have asked the right questions and covered your bases before you sign on the dotted line.
1. Submission of Personal Information
In the day and age of identity theft, you can never be too careful. Introduce your prospective landlord to the idea of a service such as SmartMove. All personal information can be submitted through a secure online source, which protects both you and the landlord.
2. Rental Amount
Ask for clarification on the total rental amount and whether or not this is for the life of the lease agreement or if there will be increases. Confirm that the lease agreement stipulates the agreed upon rental amount and is void of any verbiage allowing for an increase before you sign.
3. Security and Pet Deposits
Ask your landlord for the total amount due upon signing the lease agreement. This can be a substantial amount of money if it includes first and/or last month’s rent, a security deposit, and pet fees. Many landlords require an additional fee or deposit if you are going to have animal(s) on the premises and there is no structure for the determination of this expense, so if you feel that a fee/deposit is unreasonable, try to negotiate with the landlord to see if you can get it reduced. Also ask the landlord if this is a fee or a deposit, meaning one is non-refundable but the other may not be.
4. What does your monthly rent cover?
Homes come with an abundance of monthly maintenance items, such as pool care, lawn care, pest control, water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, and utilities. Discuss which items the landlord will cover and which items will be out-of-pocket expenses. If the landlord has an expectation for the care of the landscaping, discuss how much it will cost to maintain the yard so that you can include this in your monthly budget. If the landlord has the expectation that the filters of the reverse osmosis be changed on a regular basis or salt added to the water softener, ask if those expenses can be deducted from your monthly rent and make sure this is noted in the lease agreement.
5. Landlord access
It is highly unlikely that you would appreciate unexpected visits from your landlord or to find out that your landlord had accessed the premises without your permission, so discuss this issue with your landlord prior to signing the lease so you both have a clear understanding on this issue.
6. Requirements upon move-out
Does the landlord require you to have the carpet and/or home professionally cleaned when you vacate? If so, is it your role to coordinate the cleaning or is this an out-of-pocket expense that you are responsible for? It may seem strange to discuss moving out before you have moved in, but it is always easier to set forth the expectations ahead of time.
7. Grounds for withholding security deposit
A security deposit is just that; security against damage that goes above and beyond the normal wear and tear of living in a home. It is wise to ask the landlord on what grounds they would withhold monies so that you have a clear understanding before signing a lease agreement.
Getting caught up in the frenzy of a PCS move is nearly impossible to avoid, but it can also lead to potentially serious consequences. Do not make rash decisions in the heat of the moment that may leave you vulnerable. Use our suggestions to create a list of essential questions you should ask your landlord before you sign a lease agreement and be sure to share any recommendations that you may have.
