Ben's Rental Home Checklist -- Things to look for in a rental

• Things to ask
  • Costs
    • Monthly Rent
    • Utilities
      • What is included with rent?
      • Internet type available?
      • Type of HVAC
      • How much does it cost to heat in the winter?
      • What do we do with trash?
      • Is recycling available?
  • Paperwork
    • Lease
      • Length
        • What happens when the lease expires?
      • Special restrictions?
    • Application?
      • References?
      • Background check?
      • credit check?
      • Rental history check?
      • How long does the process take?
      • Application fee?
  • Policies
    • How do I contact management?
      • Are there specific office hours?
    • Can I paint the nursery?
    • Do I have to mow the lawn?
    • Can I plant flowers and shrubs
    • Can I have a vegetable garden?
    • Can I hang pictures, curtains, etc? (nail holes)
    • What do I do if something breaks?
      • How long will it take to fix?
      • What if I want to fix it myself?
  • Location
    • What are the neighbors like
    • Distances
      • Distance to grocery store
      • Distance to library
      • Distance to park
      • Distance to police/fire/hospital
    • Where does this road go?
  • History
    • Previous tenants
      • What were they like?
      • How long were they here?
      • Why did they leave?
    • House
      • When was this place built?
      • What sorts of repairs have been done lately?
      • How long have you been renting it?
      • How long has it been listed?
• Things to notice
  • Distance to work
  • Nearby Highway? Airports? Traintracks?
  • Road approaching rental
    • Treacherous road?
    • Deteriorated road surface
    • Ice
    • How fast do people drive down it?
  • Driveway
    • Blind drive?
    • treacherous/steep driveway?
    • potholes?
    • Mud?
    • Too narrow?
  • Parking
    • Room for enough cars?
    • Condition (muddy? etc)
    • Pine trees?
    • Carport?
    • Distance from Parking to Front Door
  • Yard
    • Room
      • Room for baby to play?
        • Is there anything dangerous (like a cliff or a highway)
      • Room for a swing set?
      • Room for a sandbox?
      • Room for cookout?
      • Room for Garden?
      • Distance to nearest neighbor
        • Remember Safety vs. Privacy
    • Condition
      • Is there trash in the yard?
      • Ground Cover? Grass?
      • Walkways?
      • Landscaping?
      • Plants?
        • What kind?
    • Storage shed?
      • Condition, etc.
  • Outside of building
    • Roof
      • Condition
        • Sagging?
        • Patched?
        • Repairs needed?
      • Materials (what is it made out of?)
    • Gutters
      • Are there any?
      • Should there be any?
      • Do they need cleaning?
    • Walls/siding
      • Condition
      • Clean?
      • Damaged?
      • Materials
    • Trim
      • Condition
        • Intact/consistent?
        • Clean/maintained?
      • Materials
      • Color
        • Pretty?
        • Faded?
    • Doors / Windows
      • Security
      • Condition
      • Materials
      • Color
      • Cleanability
    • Foundation
      • Condition
      • Materials
  • Entryway
    • Room to stamp your feet, hang your coat?
  • Every Room
    • Ceiling
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
      • Beauty
      • Vents?
      • Ceiling Fans?
    • Lights
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
      • Beauty
      • Function (Brightness)
      • Bulbs?
    • Walls
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
      • Beauty
      • Durability
      • Light Switches
      • Electric & phone outlets
      • Vents?
      • Safety (babyproofable)
    • Closets
      • Ceiling / Walls / Floor
      • Size
      • Light?
      • Shelves / hooks / rods
        • Condition/Cleanability
    • Doors
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
      • Beauty
      • Safety
      • Babyproofability
      • Insulation value
    • Windows
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
      • Beauty
      • Safety
      • Insulation value
      • Function
        • Light
        • Ventilation
    • Floor
      • Condition
        • Level?
      • Cleanability
      • Beauty
      • Durability
      • Safety (babyproofable)
      • Vents?
  • Living Room
    • Room for Sofa/futons, Glider, Coffee table
    • Bookcases?
    • Computer desk?
  • Dining Room
    • Room for table and chairs?
  • Kitchen
    • Amenities
      • Age and quality of stove, fridge
      • Dishwasher?
      • Garbage disposal?
      • Sinks and counters
        • Quality
        • Condition
        • Cleanability
    • Space
      • Storage
        • Dishes/serving
        • Pots and pans/Cooking
        • Appliances
        • Foodstorage
      • Work Space
        • Logical Layout
        • Room for 2
        • Counter space
        • Room for trash
  • Utility Rooms / storage
    • Washer/Dryer hookup?
    • Utility sink?
    • Enough Storage room?
    • Room for Vacuum Cleaner?
    • Linen Closet?
    • Long term storage (camping / Christmas / suitcases)
    • Size and age of Hot-water heater
  • Master Bedroom
    • Room for Queen bed (6.5'x5'), Nightstands, dressers
    • Room to get dressed
  • Nursery
    • Room for crib, changing table
    • Babyproofable
    • Safety
    • Distance to master BR
  • Bathroom
    • Size
    • Toilet
      • Comfort
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
      • Location of tp
    • Tub / shower
      • Size
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
    • Sink / faucet / counter
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
    • Storage space
      • Size
      • Condition
      • Cleanability
      • Convenience

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