New Leasin’ Life: 3 Money-Saving Tips for Living Rental-To-Rental
While many people dream about becoming homeowners, leasing is a preferable or necessary housing situation for some adults. After all, leasing provides you with greater flexibility than home ownership does, and it may be a more desirable living option if you intend to relocate to a new area within the next several years.
Unfortunately, leasing can also be rather expensive, and you understandably are looking for thoughtful tips to help you reduce leasing expenses in various ways.
Focus on the Deposits
Some apartment rentals may only require you to pledge a deposit of a few hundred dollars.
It is common for house rentals to require a deposit that is equivalent to one month’s rent as well as your first month’s rent paid in advance.
There may also be variations in pet deposits. While you need to ensure that the deposits are affordable for you to pay, you also should pay attention to the amount of the deposit that is non-refundable.
If possible, read online reviews about the management company so that you can determine if the company has a reputation of hanging onto deposits after move-out.
Keep the Space Clean
Many leases are written so that you must pay cleaning and repair costs after you move out.
In fact, some leases have a required cleaning fee if you do not hire a professional house cleaner yourself.
It may be more affordable overall for you to address cleaning and minor repair issues yourself.
For example, if the blinds have been damaged, it may be more cost-effective for you to replace the blinds rather than to be charged for the blinds and related labor costs.
Look for Energy-Saving Features
When you begin searching for a new place to live, remember that the features in the home can dramatically affect energy costs for the entire time that you live in the space.
Consider that an older AC system usually costs more to run than a newer model. Window and door seals, the age of the home and other factors all play a role on energy costs and should be reviewed before you decide which new home or apartment to move into.
Additionally, you may find that buying your own air conditioner box unit to fit in a window may be more efficient than running an old system. It can also save you money as you move around because you can take it with you.
While leasing a home versus buying makes smart sense for many adults, there may be some hidden costs associated with leasing that you may not focus on initially.
If you want to make an affordable decision about where to live going forward, turn your attention to these points as you search for a new place to live.
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