Trust is a necessary part of any business deal or agreement. Choosing to rent from someone is a specifically involved agreement, and trust is essential in order to work. To know if you can trust a landlord, here are a few key things you can do before signing a lease.
Pay attention to the renting process
A potential landlord or management company should require a background check, inquire about your income, and see what your renting history is. If they don’t require this of you, then it’s more suspicious. If they don’t require you to sign a lease, be wary. For your own financial protection, it’s important to get all agreements in writing.
Look them up online
If it’s a larger management company they will have online reviews from previous tenants. This will give you some insight into how past and present tenants feel about the company as a whole. Some people do lie online, so make sure you read thoroughly. You can check sites like Google or Yelp, as well as social media sites like Facebook, Linkedin,etc. Also, Glassdoor will give you insight into how past and present employees experience working for the company or landlord. An internet search will give you a better sense of if you can trust a landlord or management company.
Talk with current tenants
What is their experience with the landlord or management company? Spend a little time outside of a showing asking around the building, if it’s a multi-unit building, or around the neighborhood if it’s a single-family home. Other tenants and neighbors will likely give their honest impression. Make sure to be courteous if you’re knocking on people’s doors.
