This blog provides tips on how to secure a rental property from finding market information to moving into the house.
5 Tips on How Secure A Rental Property
Know the Rental Market
It is very necessary for us to understand market trends and regional characteristics in advance. This contains research on different areas’ housing prices, rent levels, transportation convenience, surrounding amenities as well as surrounding schools. With this information, you can narrow down your search to focus on areas matching your budget and living needs.
Know Our Requirements and Budget
Second, we should set clear rental requirements and budget. House size, layout, floor level, orientation, and decoration could be our consideration.
Get Information From Multiple Channels
Besides traditional newspapers and offline agents, we can find rental information via multiple channels. For example, online rental platforms are a good choice. There are large property databases and detailed housing information with pictures. According to your needs and budget, we can filter suitable properties on these platforms. And, these platforms provide convenient features like one-click viewing appointments and online signing. This saves considerable time and effort.
Social media groups are also an invaluable resource. You can join related Facebook groups or WhatsApp groups. In these groups, landlords and tenants directly post the latest property listings, while we can communicate directly with them to understand specific property details. Generally speaking, information in these groups is more real-time and accurate. Also, we can pay attention to rental information posted directly by landlords, such as rental advertisements posted on community bulletin boards. It often includes properties with good value for money.
Personal Preparation
When finding a desirable property, we can, in advance, prepare all necessary documents including identification, proof of income, and rental contract templates. In this way, once the landlord or agent requests a viewing or signing, we can act immediately to settle the order as soon as possible. In addition to preparing complete documentation and proof of financial stability, maintaining a good credit record beforehand is also important. Because landlords typically prefer tenants with clean background checks, sufficient income, and a good rental history.
Friendly Communication
Of course, it is recommended to establish good communication with landlords or agents. Throughout the rental process, we need to maintain politeness and patience while respecting their time and requirements. If there are any questions, we can communicate with them as soon as possible. This will help build trust and increase your chances of securing the property.
How Do I Not Get Scammed on A Rental Property?
Common Scammed Case
The most common scam involves fraudsters impersonating landlords. Usually, they don’t own the property but use collecting deposits or background check fees as excuses to steal money. To counter such scams, we should avoid untraceable payment methods. In other words, we should require written leases with proper documentation and personally inspect the property. Or, we can meet landlords face-to-face and talk with existing tenants. Other safeguards include verifying property ownership and working with licensed real estate agents.
Contract Signing
Before signing any contract, we must carefully read and understand its contents. The contract should include rent amount, payment method, lease term, maintenance responsibilities, and deposit return conditions. If the contract contains ambiguous terms, excessive deposits, or unfair maintenance responsibility allocation, you should stay alert.
On-site Inspection
Then, when inspecting the property on-site, we should focus not only on the house’s condition but also pay attention to the surrounding environment’s safety. This typically includes checking
- If doors and windows are intact,
- Whether locks are reliable,
- If the surrounding environment is clean,
- Whether there is sufficient lighting and surveillance facilities.
Obtaining Receipts
Before paying any fees, we should clearly understand their specific purposes respectively. The purposes could be deposits, rent, and agent fees. Furthermore, we can even ask for clear receipts. If the landlord asks us to pay large amounts in advance without providing reasonable explanations and receipts, this might be a sign of fraud.
Be Wary of Promotional Offers
Be cautious of overly enthusiastic landlords. They might use various preferential conditions to attract you, such as waiving deposits and providing extra furniture and appliances. However, these offers might hide traps. For example, they might include hidden terms in the contract as prerequisites for the benefits. Therefore, before accepting any offers, we must clarify these conditions.
Verify Landlord Credentials
Verifying landlord credibility with the internet is an effective measure. For instance, you can search the landlord’s or agent’s name online and check if they have any bad records or if anyone has complained about them.
How Can I Make My Rental Home More Secure?
After renting a house, we need to focus on a more important issue – How to Secure A Rental Property.
Since 2016, France has had up to two million theft cases annually. Such a high theft rate shows that tenants are more vulnerable than homeowners. So implementing appropriate security measures in rental properties is crucial. Essential security facilities include smart door locks, automatic exterior lighting, window security devices, motion sensor technology, and surveillance cameras with virtual doorbells. Normally, landlords should determine which security facilities to provide and clearly communicate security responsibilities to tenants. These security measures protect both tenants’ and landlords’ investments.
Window Security
To begin with, we should strengthen window protection. Many burglaries occur through windows. Therefore, we can ensure all windows close securely and install sturdy security windows or safety nets. For lower-floor windows, we can consider installing security bars or security alarms inside windows. Once there’s unusual intrusion, it will immediately sound an alarm.
Automatic Lighting
Indoor lighting is also key to enhancing security. Keeping interiors well-lit can effectively reduce opportunities for criminals. Therefore, we can install sufficient sensor lights at entrances, corridors, and main rooms. They automatically light up at night or when no one is present. This both enhances security and avoids energy waste.
Smart Monitoring System
It is a wise choice to install a security monitoring system. The monitoring system can cover the main areas of the house including entrances, corridors, living rooms, and valuable storage areas. If unusual situations occur, we can check real-time footage via mobile phone as soon as possible. The presence of monitoring systems itself can deter potential criminals.
Fire Safety
We shouldn’t neglect safety checks of household appliances.
- Regularly check wires, outlets, and electrical equipment for aging or damage
- Promptly replace old wires and outlets to prevent electrical fires
- Ensure all electrical equipment meets national safety standards
- Use appliances correctly according to instructions
Security Awareness
Of course, besides physical security measures, raising personal security awareness is equally important. We shouldn’t randomly disclose our address to unfamiliar people, especially through social networking platforms. At the same time, we should develop the habit of checking if doors and windows are locked before leaving. Furthermore, we can establish good relationships with neighbors so they can help in emergency situations.
Electrical Devices Making Your Rental Home Secure
Smart Door Locks
Smart door locks play a crucial role in rental property security. They provide tenants with a more secure way to unlock doors and prevent unauthorized access. Smart door locks can also record entry and exit information, allowing users to understand the property’s usage situation at any time.
Video Doorbell with Surveillance Camera
It can monitor activities at the doorstep in real-time and detect unusual situations promptly. The camera can also record visitor footage, providing reliable evidence for tenants. Therefore, video doorbells with surveillance cameras are important tools for enhancing rental property security.
Smart Lights
They can automatically sense light changes and turn on illumination promptly. This effectively prevents nighttime theft. Meanwhile, bright lighting can also deter potential criminals.
Door and Window Sensors
They can monitor the status of doors and windows in real-time. If doors or windows are illegally opened, the sensors will trigger an alarm. Additionally, the sensors can send abnormal information to users so they can take timely measures.
Glass Break Sensors
They can promptly detect the sound of breaking glass. Once an intruder attempts to enter by damaging windows, the sensor will, similarly, trigger an alarm. Additionally, the sensor can send alert information to users for rapid response.
Motion Sensors
They can monitor movement within the house in real time. When there is an unusual intrusion, the motion sensor will trigger an alarm. Additionally, the sensor can send alert information to users so they can take preventive measures promptly.
