Your Go-To Renting Guide: 4 Things You Need to Know Before Move-In Day

Your one-way ticket is reserved, your landlord awaits, and you’re all ready to move into your new hometown. From a corporate reassignment to a school transfer, renters like you are probably buzzing to experience something new after waiting months. Then you stumble upon the question, “Where am I going to live?” If you haven’t found yourself an affordable apartment for rent for your stay because you’ve been confused about what you’re going to need, ask yourself the following questions:

What are you looking for?

If you like peace and quiet at the end of the day, as well as your own company, you’re more likely going to want to get a private room for rent to accommodate only yourself. The pros: you’re going to get the silence and serenity you want; the cons: it’s going to cost you more than if you had a fellow roommate to share a room for rent with. 

Speaking of fellow renters, sociable renters may be more inclined to find themselves a shared bed space for rent during their stay. Especially if they’re new to town and don’t really know anyone yet, this may be a way to open themselves up to opportunities while they can. The pros: you’re going to make a friend who’s practically on-call; the cons: you may have to work around each other’s schedule for peace and quiet in the apartment when you need it. 

Another thing you should consider is how you want to live. That is, are you bringing a lot of your old belongings with you (which may potentially annoy your fellow renter if you live in a small apartment); are you comfortable with sharing facilities in a single room for rent like the bathroom and kitchen (because you’re going to get very familiar with each other this way); and/or is comfort or convenience more important for you, prompting the need for either a bed space over a room for rent or otherwise)?

For more information on the topic of private or shared rooms for rent, read our article, ‘[ask Ariana for the title/insert link here]’, where we discuss it more in-depth.

What’s your budget?

When you’re planning out the budget you want to stick to during your stay, think about how much money you make, and how much of it you want to save for other purposes. This works especially well for renters who are living in affordable rooms or beds for rent already.

Besides monthly rent, which you’ve likely saved up for already, consider your utilities – which may or may not be included in your rent, be smart about making price comparisons on this alone – as well as other necessities like groceries and emergency expenses.

Once you’ve planned it all out, ask yourself where you’re willing to cut costs if you can. For example, bed spaces for rent will charge less than a room for rent, but it may come at the cost of your comfort; a far-off apartment is farther from your workplace than the nearby bed space, but it may mean you get to sleep in for hours more; while a shared space costs less than a private one, but it may mean you don’t get as much peace and quiet.

Incorporate your priorities into your budget as much as possible and don’t be afraid to bend the rules when the situation calls for it.

What’s outside?

Before finalizing your decision, try to visit your room for rent as much as possible. After all, it’s one thing to see pictures of it tidied up online, and another to see it all for yourself in its natural state.

On-site, you can ensure that the utilities like water and electricity flow without interruption, as well as check for rental space red flags like thin walls and non-soundproof windows. Additionally, make friends with your fellow renters while you can! It will make move-in day easier for you when they decide to help out their friendly new neighbor.

Lastly, take a look outside. Is your room for rent near enough from your workplace? Map out a route for grocery shopping, walking to your workplace or to the nearest public transportation stop, as well as for other key landmarks you should know about like the hospital. Look out for streetlights, nearby eateries, and parking spaces, too, which all contribute to the safety and convenience of your new neighborhood.

Who is your landlord?

If you thought any landlord was a good landlord, you may think twice when it’s time to negotiate a difficult issue. Your communication with them should be as easy and hassle-free as possible. If it’s not? Well…

If you can, ask them how long they’ve been a landlord, if they manage any other apartments, as well as about their experience in both affordable for rent spaces in general. Ask them how they’ve dealt with issues in the past related to both, as well as how they may befall you in the future (don’t worry, it happens to all of us)! You can also ask them for directions to the nearest laundromat, convenience store, and/or Internet café.

This may seem like an obvious step, but a friendly landlord you have no issue bringing up difficult topics with will be one more addition to your overall peace of mind at the end of the day.

At bedsandrooms.ph, you can make sure of all of these must-ask questions with only a few clicks! Don’t know what you’re looking for yet? Browse through thousands of affordable for rent bed spaces and rooms available on our website today!