Learn from our property management experts!
If you’re moving out and looking to rent an apartment for the first time or just need to brush up on apartment etiquette, here are six tips on what NOT to do in your apartment.
You should never go into a lease blind. It’s vital to tour every apartment you’re interested in before signing a lease. Online tours may not show every detail in the apartment, so it’s best to always do it in person. Oftentimes the apartment in the online tour is not the exact same one you will be renting—they usually just have the same layout. It’s possible that you’ll show up to the apartment and there’s a strange odor, or the neighbors cause a ruckus and set a poor example.
An apartment lease contains a lot of important information and rules to follow. It’ll tell you whether or not you have to pay for your own utility bills, information about parking, and pet policies. Mark special attention to the start and end of your lease. The lease is like your little apartment rule book, and if you break the rules of your lease, you may not get your security deposit back.
Decorating your apartment makes it feel like home, but your lease might not allow you to hang décor from the walls. Make do by hanging décor with adhesive hooks that are easily removable from walls and leave little to no damage.
Depending on your apartment’s policy, having pets may or may not be allowed. Many people have a furry friend or two, but keeping an illegal pet will break your lease, and you may not get your security deposit back or may be required to move out before the lease ends.
You will have a window when moving in to notify the landlord of anything that feels off. Say there’s a small crack or the shower doesn’t work quite as well as it should. You should notify your landlord of your observations so you won’t be held accountable for them later on. If you don’t tell your landlord of these details, the landlord may hold you responsible and withhold your security deposit when you move out in the future.
If there are problems with your apartment while you’re living there, you need to tell the landlord as soon as you notice them. You should want to live in an apartment that fulfills all your needs. If any of the appliances break or you’re having problems with your bathroom, it’s up to your landlord to repair them. Any issues that arise within the apartment will just get worse over time if left unchecked.
If you don’t pay your rent on time, you might build a bad rep with your landlord. Paying any bill late often comes with repercussions like late fees. They might not write a tenant recommendation for your next apartment. Some landlords can be more understanding than others, so if you need to be late paying your rent it’s best to let them know in advance.
Sometimes stuff comes up, like your car needing a costly repair that can cause you to pay rent late. Your landlord may understand and can accommodate you. Just make sure not to make paying rent late a habit. It’s always best to have enough in your savings account to pay rent for a few months just in case something like a car repair comes up or you lose your job.
Renter’s insurance is a good investment that will help you in the long run. You might not think anything bad will happen to your apartment, but you really never know and it’s best to be prepared. Renter’s insurance covers your personal property, liability (if you damage someone else’s property or someone is injured in your apartment), and additional living expenses in the event you have to temporarily live elsewhere while the apartment is undergoing repairs.
It might not always be your fault. Sometimes your neighbors’ apartment floods and you’re left with water damage and ruined furniture. Or, there’s a fire in your apartment building that gets out of control, and all your stuff is ruined or reeks like smoke.
MMC Properties is a premier property management company in Middle Tennessee, serving the greater Nashville area of Smyrna, LaVergne, and Murfreesboro. We offer rentals and property management for building owners. To learn more about the services we offer, call (615) 849-9006 today.