Before sealing the deal, be smart and follow these tips to make sure you are ready.

Visit the Property and Inspect Any Damages

It’s important to look at the apartment yourself and record any damages or issues that you’ll see so you could inquire about it and be on the same page with the landlord. Inspect all the appliances, and roam around the inside and outside of the apartment.

You should also check the wirings and lightings of the apartment, as well as the water pressure of the faucets, and all the locks. Should you encounter any problem, don’t forget to take note, and discuss it with your landlord.

Discuss about Maintenance and Customization

Before you settle in and make your apartment your new home, make sure to discuss what alterations you can make to the place. Is it okay to paint the walls? Or install stuff on the walls? What customizations can you do? And if something goes wrong with the apartment, what should you do? Understanding the maintenance process before you move in is important for you to know if the building does have a maintenance staff or not.

Check Apartment Reviews and Tenant Feedbacks

Reviews and feedback tell you how satisfied the previous tenants are with how well they have been treated and what they can say about the property. Try to read the most recent reviews, and check for any problems they encountered with the property and how well the landlord handled these issues. This way you will have a proper expectation of what’s going to happen after you move in.

Read and Understand the Apartment Lease

Before you sign anything, make sure you’ve read it carefully and don’t sign if there’s anything you don’t understand. Find out if everything that you and the landlord agreed upon is included in the lease. Check for guests and pet policy if you think you will need that in the future. And don’t forget to discuss and negotiate with your landlord should you see any issues with the lease.

Know the Overall Cost and Rent

Does you rent cover your electricity, water, heat? How about internet, trash, maintenance? Confirm what is really included in the rent so you’ll know what else you must pay for and budget accordingly. Other repairs and costs that you should be looking at are snow removal, lawn care, or maybe even parking fees. Check to see if you will be able to afford all this when you move in and have some extra for emergencies.

After making sure you have gone through all these steps, you are finally ready to sign the apartment lease and start moving!

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When Does Your Lease Expire?

During a lease signing, you have the opportunity to agree to specific lease terms. This provides the dates for both moving in and moving out of your apartment. Typically, leases are for a period of 12 months. There are other communities that offer month-to-month leases too. Highlight your lease end date in your personal calendar, or wherever you will remember it in the future. You should also have a copy of your lease agreement. Refer back to that to find your lease expiration date.   

Lease Renewal Communication

Our property managers contact each resident in advance. This contact happens 90 or even 120 days prior to the lease expiration date. Providing your apartment manager with notice at least 60 days prior, is a standard due date for most apartment complexes. Find out when you need to notify your apartment manager of your decision during your lease signing. If you have not communicated your choice to stay or move by the due date, your landlord may re-rent your apartment or your lease agreement may auto renew.

Lease Changes

Renewing your lease does not always mean everything stays the same except expiration dates. Before committing to another year, chat with your property manager about any changes in this new lease term. Is your rent rate increasing? Are there any new rules or policies you should be updated on? Any changes should be reflected in a new lease agreement provided in writing.

Our communities offer free carpet cleanings to all residents staying with us for another year. This is a great way to say thank you and provide our residents a little “refresh”. Ask if your property management company extends perks to renewing residents, as well.

Update Your Info

A lease renewal meeting is a great time to update your info with your manager or landlord. Perhaps you’ve purchased a new car or changed your phone number. Minor maintenance items tend to topics of conversation at this time too. Try not to wait until the end of your lease to discuss outstanding maintenance concerns with your landlord. Checking the availability for minor touch-up paint or nail holes to be filled are both great examples of minor maintenance to mention.

How to Renew Your Lease

If you have decided to renew your lease and agree to any changes, it’s time to sign a new lease agreement. Residents at any one of our properties enjoy the convenience of receiving these documents electronically. Meeting in person or communicating any questions over the phone prior to signing is recommended. Never assume there are no changes to discuss. Read your new lease carefully. Take note of your expiration date and rent price.

If you have signed paper documents, make sure you’ve received a copy for your records. For our communities, signed leasing documents are uploaded to the tenant portal and can be accessed at any time.

If you have questions about how to renew your lease or your lease terms, we’d love the opportunity to answer those for you! Another topic to ask about is transferring from one floorplan to another at the same property. We can also help with transfers from one community to another sister-property within our company. Give any of our property managers a call today and they’ll be happy to help!

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