5 Things to Look for in a Rental Listing

 

Whether you’re looking for an apartment, single-family house or townhome, be prepared to spend a lot of time online and even more time driving around to tour the most promising places in person. If you want to save time and avoid headaches, make sure that every rental listing you consider has all the information you need to make an informed decision. High-quality listings help you weed out the places that don’t fit your criteria (wait, Fido’s not welcome?), but they also indicate an organized, communicative and professional landlord — something every renter wants. As you begin your search, consider these five important things every good rental listing should contain:

 

Front and center should be the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, storage space and a floor plan to help you visualize the layout. Bonus points if there is a 3D tour. Did you know you can filter rental listings on the Zillow app to only show ones that include a 3D tour? Avoid listings with vague terms like “junior one bedroom” or “open one bedroom.” According to Zillow research, 69% of renters require their preferred number of bedrooms. Landlords know this, so they get creative with descriptions to attract more tenants. If you’re moving to a new part of town or an entirely new city, look for listings with important facts about the neighborhood, including proximity to transit or major freeways, convenient shopping centers, and nearby recreation and entertainment options. Don’t rely solely on the listing description itself — test out things like walkability and commute using the Travel Times, Walk Score®  feature in the Zillow app.

 

It may seem obvious, but nice-to-have in-unit amenities, like recent renovations, hardwood floors, plenty of windows and upgraded kitchens can sometimes overshadow the fact that the necessities aren’t there. Beyond basics like heating and kitchen appliances, every renter has different amenities that they consider must-haves. Does the listing you’re browsing have yours? The most popular amenities renters look for include air conditioning, in-unit laundry, ample storage and private outdoor space. Shared amenities should be included in the listing too — things like parking, rooftop decks, fitness areas, outdoor space, swimming pools and bike storage.

 

The listing should disclose any policies that could be a deal breaker for you. Examples include rules around pets (including specific breeds), the maximum number of people who can live in the unit, smoking, parking, noise and — most importantly — lease terms and length. Additionally, see if you can tell if the landlord lives on-site or if a local property management company manages things. If the landlord is nearby, they’ll likely handle repair requests quickly, along with general building upkeep and maintenance.

 

Make sure the landlord is exceptionally clear about the dollars and cents:

 

 

These additional charges can quickly move a listing from feasible to fruitless, so make sure you have all the info you need to do the math ahead of time.

 

Focus on listings that have not only good photos but also recent photos — and lots of them. Look for listings that include both interior and exterior shots, plus photos of all shared amenities. But renter beware: If the landlord says the photos are of a similar unit — not the one that’s actually for rent — you may find yourself looking at a phantom property or in a bait-and-switch situation. Once you find a few listings that include these details, you’re off to a great start. You can more easily compare properties side by side, identify deal breakers and find areas where a landlord might be open to compromising.