Renting Made Simple: Your 5-Step Rental Process
1
Meet With Me,
Your Realtor
We will start by discussing the type of home you are looking for, including style, price, and location. While rental qualifications vary from property to property, we will walk through the typical application process and screening criteria, including pet restrictions, criminal history, credit history, current income, and rental history, so you know exactly what to expect going in.
The Tenant's Advantage:
Having a Realtor represent you as a tenant client means personalized advice and honest guidance every step of the way as you search for your new home.
2
Set Up Your Search
We will use everything from our first meeting to build a search tailored specifically to you, so you see every available home that meets your criteria. This cuts out the noise and significantly reduces the time it takes to find your next place to live.
Advanced Search:
Not all real estate websites are the same. I have tools and systems in place to make sure you see every available home that fits what you are looking for. Because our search process is so efficient, we can usually identify a home within 3 to 4 weeks of your target move in date. If you have pets, I recommend starting your search about 5 to 6 weeks before your expected move in date. We love pets, but not every property owner does, so we just need a little extra time to find a home that works for both you and your pets.
3
Let's Go and View
Some Homes
At this stage, you will be eager to start touring homes, and you might even feel ready to submit an application before seeing a single property in person. Not so fast. We will get there. The rental market can move quickly, and without the right approach, you could end up wasting time visiting homes that are already unavailable, or paying application fees for homes you may not actually qualify for or agree with the terms of.
My goal is to save you both time and money. In many cases, a home already has multiple applications under consideration, or worse, the property manager has already accepted one. Before you ever visit a home, I contact the property management company directly to confirm the pet policy and current availability, so you are not taking time off work or rearranging your schedule to see a home that is no longer an option. Once I have confirmed the rental criteria and availability, you decide whether the home is genuinely a fit for your needs. From there, we narrow things down to your top 3 to 5 homes, and then comes the fun part. We schedule showings and go see them in person, so you can find the perfect home or apartment for you and your family.
Save Time and Money:
Not every agent puts in the same effort for rentals that I do. Because rental commissions are relatively low compared to home sales, many agents will not show rental properties at all. I take a different approach. I do what it takes to meet your needs today, so you can trust that I have your best interests in mind tomorrow as well. Pre-screening rentals and giving you the full criteria upfront saves you from wasted application fees on properties that already have applications in progress.
4
Submit an Application
I will help you complete your application based on the price and terms you have chosen. Be prepared to pay application fees as part of this step.
Timing Is Everything:
Do not submit an application unless you are prepared to pay the security deposit and first month's rent within the next two weeks. Applications are typically reviewed and approved or denied within 3 to 5 business days. After approval, most property management companies require the security deposit and first month's rent within 48 to 72 hours of your approval notice. Some companies allow up to two weeks before your lease begins, while others expect it to start immediately. The bottom line is to be financially ready to cover all deposits and first month's rent within about a week of submitting any application.
5
Sign the Lease
Congratulations, your application has been approved. Before you sign, remember that a lease is a legally binding contract. That means you are responsible for every term of the agreement, including the timely payment of your security deposit and rent going forward.
