| You went out apartment hunting and found the perfect | | | | 3. What is your rental rate? This should be |
| place! Its close to your job, nightlife, restaurants and | | | | somewhere on the lease. If it is not indicated |
| everything you wanted. Now that you have found the | | | | somewhere on the lease you need to make sure it is |
| perfect place you need to sign a lease. | | | | before you sign it. There should never be any |
| A lot of people will tense up when looking over a lease | | | | discrepancies as to what your rental rate is and what |
| for the first time, you don't want to miss any of the | | | | you are going to be paying each month. Again if the |
| fine print. A lot of leases are the same, but a lot of | | | | rental rate is not on the lease then don't sign it. |
| leases can be very different. | | | | 4. Make sure the start and end dates are on your |
| Your new apartment lease has to follow the local and | | | | lease. This way you know with out a doubt when your |
| state laws that govern both the tenant's and landlord | | | | lease starts and when it ends. Breaking a lease early |
| management companies rights. The local and state | | | | could carry some heavy penalties and could cost you |
| laws include regulations on security deposits, the | | | | a lot of money. The most important date you should |
| eviction process and what happens if the lease is | | | | have on your lease is when your rent is due. If you |
| broken, | | | | don't know when your rent is due you could end up |
| With a lot of leases varying as far as state and local | | | | paying a lot of late fees and penalties or even be |
| laws there are a lot of things that should be included | | | | evicted. |
| on every lease signed. You will want to keep the | | | | 5. Make sure you security deposit amount is noted in |
| following things in mind and make sure you look at | | | | the lease. Some apartment complexes don't charge |
| them before signing. | | | | security deposits, they charge a move in fee. Make |
| 1. Make sure everyone's name is on the lease! This is | | | | sure this is noted and you understand what is going to |
| a MUST! If they are over 18 years old they need to | | | | happen when you move out. |
| sign the lease also. If you move someone into your | | | | When signing the lease make sure you look over the |
| apartment and they damage it, but the lease is only in | | | | rules and regulations also. You do not want to move in |
| your name then you will be the only one help | | | | and find out that your apartment complex has rules |
| responsible. Just because you like someone and think | | | | you can't live with. Take note of the policies on visitors, |
| they will make a good room mate that doesn't mean | | | | parking, subletting, repairs, renters insurance and on |
| they will take care of the apartment the way you | | | | pets and types of pets that are allowed. |
| would. | | | | Try not to rush or let someone else rush you when |
| 2. The exact name and unit number should be listed on | | | | signing a lease. The lease can be long and complex |
| the lease. You really don't want to sign a lease thinking | | | | but its better to read over it now than make a costly |
| you are getting one apartment and it turn out you get | | | | mistake later on. |
| another one. | | | | |