Tips and Hints

Renting Tip: Given a choice between a 6 month lease and a 12 month lease - choose 12 months. The rent will be guaranteed at the first best rate, and will go up on the shorter term lease.

Renting Tip: Apartment location is paramount importance to your employment, lifestyle, interests, schools. In making a choice check the drive time and distance to your area of interest. Saving on rent can be waste of gas money and time to get to and from work.

Renting Tip: Choices proximity at the given time you are looking for an apartment the perfect location or the same school district may not have available apartment units, keep in mind and have second best alternative.

Renting Tip: Traffic If you are in traffic a hour each way to work you need to move closer to work. Access to major through fares is a plus, not under construction. Get  close to your work, church, grocery store, parks.

Renting Tip: All bills paid is a rarity rather than the norm. Having your own electric meter and bill you can choose the electricity provider. Sub-meter electricity means you pay for your electricity and the common area and they can charge $2 a month to send you this bill. Given a choice you may prefer your own electric meter.

Renting Tip: First floor vs. Second or Third floor residence. First time rents will request second floor for a number of reasons, the advantage of first floor in convince and the heating factor.

Renting Tip: Corner vs. Center of apartment building The corner is closer but everyone will be walking by you. Corner units may have upstairs access and more foot traffic. The middle has the insulation factor of the other units.

Renting Tip: Poolside vs. Open Poolside or court side sounds attractive in reality it can be an annoying noise factor.

Renting Tip: Facing Parking Lot vs. Inside You can see your car, you will also hear all the car alarms when the trash truck comes in the middle of the night setting off the car alarms.

Renting Tip: Later if you wish for a different apartment in the same property, ask the property management when a particular unit will be available, and put your name on the list.

Renting Tip: Incidental crime prevention Look around before getting out of your car in the parking lot, this is where most crimes of opportunity occur.

Renting Tip: Request all locks and keys for all entrances be changed.

Renting Tip: Insurance. Your apartment community's or landlord's insurance policy does not cover your personal belongings when they are damaged or stolen. You can be liable for damage done to the apartment or house as a result of a fire due to your negligence. If someone is hurt while on the property you rent, you may be legally responsible for that person's medical expenses. Renters Insurance can even cover you for personal possessions that don't happen to be in the apartment or house at the time of the loss.

Renting Tip: Movers do not have insurance and can not by law offer real insurance, only a licensed insurance agent can offer this in the state of Texas. Miscellaneous Inland Marine insurance coverage can include replacement of a set of dishes of twelve if one is broken. Some moving company's offer value added coverage this is not insurance at .60 per pound loss for the one broken dish, good luck if you ever settle a claim.

Renting Tip: Storage rentals If you move your household belongs, into a mini storage you need storage insurance - an inland marine coverage from a licensed insurance company. The storage facility has insurance on their building but not your contents.

Renting Hint: Neighbors A quick reference to who lives in a complex is a observation of the cars in the parking lot.

Renting Hint: It would be preferred to NOT have your front door facing West due to the heat build up from the afternoon sun.

Renting Hint: In your apartment turn window blinds facing up this provides less see thru from the outside.

Renting Hint: Car Towing Put your apartment parking sticker in designated place on your car immediately, tow truck operators are notorious for not seeing them, they also tow cars for expired inspection sticker and expired plates, the tow experience can cost you $200.

Renting Hint: The Old Lease If you’re moving from one apartment to another, make sure you’ve fulfilled the terms of your old lease. If you move out early, you may be responsible for a re-letting fee and/or the remainder of rent due on your lease.

Renting Hint: Security Deposit You’ll need to pay a security deposit. If you’re moving from one apartment to another, you may not get your old security deposit back in time, the amounts may be different, or you may only get a certain percentage of your deposit back. Make sure you have money in the bank, just in case, your old deposit does not get returned on time.

Renting Hint: Utilities If you are moving to a new town, or moving to a building that has different utility providers, you may need to pay deposits for things like electricity, phone or any utility not included in your rent. If you are changing phone numbers or getting a new phone line installed, you may need to pay additional set up charges for that.

Do's and Don't Rental lease recommendations:

* Note the beginning date on which the lease takes effect.
* Note the expiration date on which the lease will no longer be in effect .
* The correct rental price .
* Information about the return of your security deposit .
* Reasons (Grounds) for which your leased agreement can be terminated .
* Penalty for moving out of your apartment before the lease expiration date .

When renting an apartment, consider the following:

* How far away is the apartment from my work, school, parks, entertainment.
* What parking is available for me.
* What is included with the rent (air conditioning, water, electricity, gas).
* Ask the landlord what the average utility bills have been in his/her building.
* Are there laundry facilities in the building or close to the apartment.
* How close am I to a grocery store.