We moved out of our condominium unit last April. It was a big decision to make especially in the middle of a pandemic. There were so many things to consider, even if we are only staying temporarily for a year, like the finances, new neighborhood, the space that can accommodate us, for homeschool and our business.
A homeschool community friend also had to moved to a new bigger place that can accommodate her family of 4 in San Diego.
We exchanged tips in finding the perfect home to rent for our homeschool families. These are the top 3 tips we have in common.
Check the Neighborhood and Your Budget
This is one of our main concern. We have to make sure the neighborhood is a safe and convenient place to live. We look into local amenities such as restaurants, convenient stores or grocery stores, gas stations, and hospitals.
As homeschoolers, we love walking to and staying in a park. A patch of greenery near our new homes would be great. The outdoors and more open spaces would be perfect for kids to get some sun, exercise, have nature study, and still be safe of the possible virus transmission.
Checking the area comes with the budget you are willing to spend for your rent. The type of space you are renting (an apartment, a condo unit, house, or room), and the type neighborhood comes with a price. A space in a luxury village or an urban apartment complexes with many services is more expensive compared to rental homes in a suburban and rural neighborhoods.
Seek Web Help in Checking Features
We were offered a space and got some help of friends living in the area to check on the space for us. While we did not use a property finder site, we used online sites to check on the features and feedbacks of previous tenants.
For us, since we homeschool and run an online business, we made sure that getting a fast and reliable internet provider is easy in the area. We also made sure that that extra space for homeschool and for our business inventories. We also have to make sure that the place is conducive for learning, taking calls or meetings without the unwanted street or traffic or neighbor noise.
It was way easier for my friend to look for their ideal space. She used Zumper to view available apartments in San Diego. She just filtered according to the specifications of the space she’s looking for like the number of rooms, the budget, the amenities, whether they allow pets, and even the specific neighborhood.
Zumper updates real time so you can see new available units that fit your criteria. After finding the right one, she then scheduled to inspect the place in person to make sure it’s the place she and her family want to move in to.
Review Lease’s Terms
Last, but definitely not the least tip – review all the conditions of the tenancy. The lease or rental agreement should indicate the use and refund of security deposits, including allowable deductions. The contract may also contain provisions that you might find unacceptable. For example, restriction on guests, unit design modifications, or running a home business.
Make sure to have discussions on these items with the landlord prior to signing the lease. Whatever the case, to avoid misunderstandings, tenants should always get the landlord’s approval in writing before making any changes to a rental. This is also a step in having a good rapport with your landlord and having good relationship can go a long way in making your rental experience a positive one.
There can be a long list of tips for the best rent research tips for your next home hunt but they can be grouped into these main 3 categories. These have been helpful for our hassle-free rental search. We are happily homeschooling and working from our new apartment, with more open spaces to move around and away from the busy metro for 8 months now.
As you prepare for the move, it will also be easier by working with a professional moving service. Accredited movers can help with anything from packing, loading, transporting, and unloading all the things.
