The American dream of home ownership has changed. Renting, rather than buying, is now the norm.
Why the shift? Three important reasons:
- Flexibility. Being able to go where the job offer is with ease is valuable.
- Expense. Renting is less expensive than owning.
- Maintenance. Plumbing, heating, lawn care and more are all the landlord’s responsibility.
The natural consequence of more people renting is the rental market is now more competitive.
So how does a prospective tenant secure that perfect apartment with multiple other prospective tenants vying for that same space?
To start, make sure you have a good credit score, a verifiable job history and quality references.
When apartment hunting know what your must-haves are. Being close to public transportation and having a dishwasher might top many peoples’ lists while, for others, a pet friendly apartment is key. Flexibility is important. Not every apartment can or will check off every item on your list.
Let’s mention again the benefits of a good credit score and while we are at it a lack of serious criminal history are definite positives for anyone looking to rent.
Once you become a tenant being a good neighbor, paying your rent on time, respecting the space you are leasing and considerate interactions with management are ways to ensure that you will receive a lease renewal letter and not incur the time, effort and expense of finding a new apartment year after year.
