There are lots of houses for rent in and around the beautiful city of Charleston, SC. But finding a good rental home can be even harder than finding a good apartment, and you want to make sure to avoid getting a lemon. Here are five tips to make sure you get the rental home you really want:
1. Know what you're looking for – There are many different kinds of houses for rent in Charleston. From gorgeous historic homes to large suburban options, from loft style condominiums to townhouses with private gardens, Charleston has it all. But that doesn't help you unless you know what kind of home you prefer to live in. Think carefully about your preferred location, how much space you need, whether you want something new or old, and your budget. It's easy to be dazzled by a particularly beautiful house only to realize after signing the lease that it doesn't really meet your needs.
2. Does the landlord have a "to do" list? – One of the most important things you should look for in any rental home is that it is, more or less, completely ready for you to live in comfortably. It's normal for a landlord to have one or two small projects planned for a unit—perhaps they're waiting on a new set of blinds to come in before they update all the window dressings—but if the landlord has a long to-do list that they promise they're getting to, it's a bad sign. Projects that aren't done by the time you sign the lease have a tendency of getting put off and, even if they are completed after you move in, it can be a hassle to have workers in your home. If the landlord is still getting a unit in order, keep looking.
3. Check appliances and plumbing during the walkthrough – It might feel silly to go turning on stoves and flushing toilets as you walk through a house, but it's worth it. If a burner doesn't turn on easily and the landlord has to show you "the trick" to get it to work, remember that this will be the stove you use for every meal while you live here. Similarly, turn on faucets and showers to check water pressure and see how well the toilet flushes. No house is perfect, but if one thing after another seems faulty you may want to scratch this property off your list.
4. Talk to other tenants – The power of talking to other tenants cannot be overstated—but you really need to do this when the landlord isn't hovering over your shoulder. Try arriving at a walkthrough 20 minutes early to catch a tenant for a quick one-on-one, or if you are introduced to a tenant by the landlord ask if you can e-mail them with more questions later. An objective opinion from someone who knows the property is priceless.
5. Go with a pro – While there are lots of dedicated small-time landlords renting independently, it pays to hedge your bets and go with a management company that rents houses on a larger scale. They will have the resources to handle maintenance needs and emergencies in a quick, professional manner.
What else do you look for in a rental home?