A List Of Things To Consider Before Shifting To A New Place

We have almost all been in the situation of searching for a house to rent. It doesn’t matter if it’s a portion, complete house or an apartment, the search is always difficult and comes with a lot of fears. The situation becomes very tough for people who are renting the house for the very first time. So, to ease your struggle, here is a look at a list of things to consider before shifting to a new place.

The Location and Rent

The most important point to keep in mind is the location of the house you are interested in. This will include clean access of roads, properly built street and a safe neighborhood. Some people compromise and opt for underdeveloped areas to have lower rental cost but this also brings in the fear of the location being unsafe. We must also ensure that the rent isn’t out of the market price. Compare with advertisements of other properties in the area so you don’t end up paying more.

Availability of Utilities

Utilities which include electricity, water and gas are very important. One must do a thorough research of the area. Talking specifically about Islamabad, there are some area where the water supply is very poor. If you plan to move to such an area then you must ensure that the house you are moving into has alternate ways of water supply. Secondly, you must check for separate billing meters for electricity and gas. If you have a shared billing meter for electricity and gas then you are asking to get in trouble over bill disputes. Always choose a house that has separate billing for each portion.

The Landlord

It is very important to know your landlord. Properties are rented through brokers in most of the cases but you should request to meet with the landlord. Try to weigh the landlord’s personality and judge his behavior. You need to have a friendly and understanding landlord otherwise you are in for some tough time. 

The House

You can’t just move to any house. For finalizing a house, it is important to see if the house has enough space to hold the furniture and other stuff you have. The rooms should be spacious enough for the bed, side tables and the dresser. The closets must be big enough to put in all the clothes and the same goes for the bathrooms, kitchen and dining or drawing area. It’s best to imagine your furniture in the house to see if it fulfills your needs. Also, try renting a house which has good parking space for your car or bike.

The Rental Agreement

Once, all of the above is done, you need to have a document of rental agreement with your landlord. Rental agreements are generic so ensure that if you have any verbal deals with the landlord then that should be included in the document. Recheck the amount you are willing to pay in advance and the evacuating terms. Pay the advance amount only if the landlord has signed and provided a copy of the agreement to you. Also take the possession (keys etc.) as soon as the formality is done with.

Have you ever moved to a rented property? Share your experience in the comments. What moving tips would you like to give our readers?

Happy Moving!