If you’re thinking about renting your first Snellville apartment, you may be equally excited and nervous. It makes sense to feel this way! After all, there are various things you need to sort out; from finding the right place to guaranteeing you can afford it and everything in between. Make apartment hunting easier by organizing some important things beforehand. By following these basic guidelines, you can quickly find and rent your first home like a pro!
Crunch the Numbers
Before you begin your apartment search, you need to evaluate how much you can afford. To do this, you’ll need to make a monthly budget listing the entirety of your income and expenses. After that, you can calculate how much rent you can afford. A universal guideline is to keep your apartment rent at around 30% of your income after taxes. Figure out the exact dollar amount and make that your maximum rent allowance. Now take a look at your budget. Do you have enough money left over after your other expenses to cover this balance? If not, you may need to take some additional steps before you’re ready to start apartment hunting in Gwinnett.
Look Beyond the Rent
Identifying how much monthly rent you can afford is a significant first move, but there are some costs involved that you would need to acknowledge beforehand. Generally, you will need to pay a security deposit upfront along with the first month’s rent. The amount of this security deposit will differ, but it is typically the same amount as the rental payment.
There may also be other deposits and fees, such as credit check fees, utility deposits, and extra expenditures. Additionally, you’ll need to find out whether utilities are included or if you will be responsible for paying for everything separately. Internet, cable, electricity, gas, water, and trash disposal are all basic utilities that you will have to set up after moving in if they are not included in the rent. To summarize, you can consider it like this: you’ll need to have at least 2 – 3 months of rental payments saved up to secure that you have something to use when you get into your first apartment, to save you from any potential financial disasters.
Application Basics
Once you’ve got your finances figured out, it’s the right time to start searching and applying for your first apartment in Gwinnett. It is important to collect and find any documents you might need before you start so that when you find the place you desire, you’re ready to get that application done easily. To rent an apartment, you’ll need a certain list of documents and information. While this list can change from one place to another, it’s helpful to have the following available and accessible:
- Your last two pay stubs or a bank statement
- Social security number
- Driver’s license or state ID
- Credit report
- Contact information for at least two references
- Money for an Application Fee
As you’re going through the rental process, carefully read over all of your lease documents– including the fine print! A lease is a binding legal contract, which is to say that once you sign it, you will be responsible for everything that is involved in it. Have a clear understanding of your responsibilities, what your landlord will provide, how things like maintenance and repairs will work, and so on. Also, guarantee that the rental payment amount, security deposit amount, and other numbers are correct.
Get Help
If this is your first time renting, it can get very stressful very quickly. Make sure you look around for reliable property management companies to assist you through the process. Here at Real Property Management of Greater Gwinnett, we do everything we can to make this transition for you smooth and harmless. We are a company you can trust to aid you during your renting process.
Finally, observe for any unusual or unexpected rules or clauses to guarantee that you are comfortable following the rules stated in the lease. If you have any concerns about something you notice in your lease, be sure to ask somebody you trust. Generally, the more information you have about the apartment, the neighborhood, and your landlord before you rent from them, the better off you will be.
If you are looking to rent in the Gwinnett area, contact us today and we will be glad to assist you in renting the perfect home! If you are an investor with homes you would like to rent out, reach out to us so we can take over the stress of managing your properties!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
