From: chuckt@austin.ibm.com (Charles N. Tomlinson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: What to look for when renting?
Date: 17 Dec 92 22:20:44 GMT
Organization: IBM Austin
Originator: chuckt@scnteam1.austin.ibm.com


In article <1992Dec14.185426.3668@panix.com>, dans@panix.com (Dan Simoes) writes:
> As someone who's never rented before, I'm hoping that some of you
> 'old timers' :-) can help me with some tips on what to look for when
> choosing an apartment.
> 
> You can skip the obvious quips like "Well, look for the right amount
> of bedrooms..." etc.  I mean stuff like how to identify if I'll
> have electrical or water problems, structural integrity, and so forth.
> 
> Also, this is probably another FAQ but is there a model lease that someone
> has put together?  I spent an interesting afternoon in court listening
> to owners vs renters argue it out, and the deciding factor was almost 
> always the lease and exactly what was mentioned therein.
> 
> Any responses (useful ones, that is) are appreciated.
> 
> | Dan |
> 
> -- 
> Dan Simoes                                       Voice: 914.747.2900 x415
> Danix Consulting                                 email: dans@panix.com or
> Yorktown Heights, NY                                     dans@danix.uucp

Well one thing that I can say is that when you find the place you want the 
first thing you do before you move in is to have a "walk thourgh" with the 
owner.  This is when you AND the owner walk through the house/apartment and
inspect its condition.  When doing this pay very good attention to any problems
that are there and make note of them in writting.  After which both you and 
the owner sign that these problems exsist before you moved in.  Now weither
or not they are fixed by the owner before or after you move in or weither they
are fixed at all is beside the point.  Get it in writing.

The reason I stress this point is that I have had many friends and relatives
who had damage done to the place before they moved in, but did not do a move in
walk through in writing.  When it came time to leave the owner would either 
not give them their deposit or want to charge them to have the repairs done for
the damage.  My sister had a case where there was some damage to the floor and
the owner's brother kept saying that he would fix it. (But there was never 
anything in writing)  When it came time to move the owner sued my sister for 
1200.00 worth of damage.  And of course the brother was out of the country so
that he could not testify on the state of the house at move in time.

So to cut this short, I'm just saying...... Go head be picky.  If the screens
have holes in them, make note of it.  If the carpet has a Koolaid stain, make
note of it.  But always always ALWAYS get it in writing and oh yes as I said
have both of you sign it.

Hope this helps you avoid any problems.
Chuck T.
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