| "You've decided that you're ready to rent a | | | | (and heartache) by using a Realtor.o Negotiating |
| home. Perhaps you've been living in apartments | | | | rental terms is difficult for you. Most landlords |
| for a long time and ready to move into a bigger | | | | expect that you will attempt to negotiate certain |
| space with a yard but aren't quite ready to | | | | terms of your rental agreement. You'll try to get |
| commit to buying a home. Making a move like this | | | | a lower rate or at least a lower deposit, you'll |
| generally suggests that you're looking for a home | | | | want some leniency on the "no pets" clause or |
| that you're going to be in for at least a short | | | | you'll want to clarify points about maintenance of |
| period of time and so you want to find a home | | | | the home. If you aren't good at negotiating these |
| that meets all of your needs. You can probably | | | | things, you might just accept the rental |
| do this on your own, but would it be better to | | | | agreement as is which is usually not a good idea. |
| get the help of a Realtor? Possibly. | | | | A Realtor can do these negotiations for you |
| Here are some things that might make you want | | | | which will get you the best lease without harming |
| to use a Realtor to find your rental home:o You're | | | | your relationship with the new landlord.o You don't |
| new to renting. If you're moving in to your first | | | | have the time to find your rental home. Perhaps |
| rental home and have previously lived in a parents' | | | | you're a busy professional with too much on your |
| house or a dorm, you may not know what you | | | | plate and you can't be looking through rental ads |
| need to look for in a rental home. A Realtor can | | | | all day long. Hiring a Realtor who will listen to your |
| not only make sure that you get all of your rental | | | | needs and find you the right homes to look at |
| needs met and get the best deal for your | | | | can save significantly on the time involved in the |
| situation but will also take you through all of the | | | | process. |
| steps in the process so that you'll have that | | | | A Realtor's job is to figure out what your needs |
| knowledge when renting future homes.o You are | | | | are and then meet those needs while getting you |
| moving to a new city. If you're moving to a | | | | the best possible lease agreement on your new |
| location that you aren't familiar with, it's usually a | | | | rental home. If you are new to renting (or new to |
| wise idea to get the assistance of a Realtor for | | | | renting in a particular area) or you just don't have |
| finding your rental home. Your Realtor will be able | | | | the time or ability to find and negotiate on your |
| to answer questions about the safety of a | | | | new home, then a Realtor could be a great way |
| neighborhood as well as let you know about its | | | | to go. You want to find the home that you want |
| proximity to schools, public transportation and | | | | to live in and it's never a bad thing to ask for a |
| area nightlife. These things can take awhile to | | | | little help. |
| research on your own so you may save time | | | | |