Questions to Ask When Looking at Rental Homes

Ditto on just about everything other posters said, except for oil heat- nobody has oil heat here. It's nearly all natural gas.

Do ask about the foundation- the soil around here is clay, and it's rough on foundations. A bad foundation can make the house annoying to live in and lead to bug problems.

I'm in the area, and I'd be happy to give an opinion of the different 'burbs and school districts if you're interested.

Ask what appliances are included- some homes rent with all kitchen applianaces (fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc), but many do not have fridges. I would also ask about any utilities included. Be sure to ask about how repairs are handled- do you call the landlord and they get someone to fix or is it ok for you to handle the repair and take it off the rent (provided you give them a copy of the bill). Ask the age of the plumbing and HVAC systems and roof. This may seem silly, but if there are issues with any of these areas, it will be a nightmare for you- especially if the landlord takes forever to make repairs. Ask if they have any service people who regularly access the home, like pest control etc. I would also see if those scouting for you might be willing to talk to a couple of neighbors about the area and what type of tennants have lived there in the past. Good luck!

I'm both a landlord and renter. You've gotten some really good responses and most everything is covered. Although I'm not speaking from personal experience, here's one more thing to look into: landlords are very picky about running your credit and making sure YOU can pay the rent and YOU can afford to live in this house, people often forget that if the landlord isn't using YOUR rent to pay the mortgage, taxes, etc, the house could go into forclosure and YOU could be out on the streets regardless of what your lease says. I'm not exactly sure if you could *prevent* something like that, but with the housing market the way it is, it's something you should be aware of - it happens more often than you'd like to think. Maybe ask your prospective landlord about his own payment history, are there any liens on the house, what would the landlord do for restitution if he loses the house to a bank, etc. You're not trying to insult him, this is just a reality of what's going on out there and you want to protect your family. Any prospective landlord should understand that. And make sure you read your lease from top to bottom, side to side. Understand *everything* that's in there.

"Is there a deposit for the dog? He is an indoor/outdoor dog. He's on flea meds, etc."

In Texas: "How much is the usual electric bill in the summer/winter? ie. What can I be expected to pay on a monthy basis?" (If the ac is inadequate or if the house is poorly insulated, you don't want to have a super-huge electric bill. Depending ont he size of the house, you shouldn't pay more than $250 or $300 for the hottest part of the summer.)

"Is water included with the rent?" (some places are on well water, which is already paid for).

"Do you mow the lawn or do I? How often will you come to mow and edge?"

"Where does the school bus pick up?:

"Are there any late fees with rent? ie: Is rent due on the 1st and late fees start on the 3rd?" (our landlord lets us pay him twice a month, half the rent now, half the rent next paycheck. He's very easy going but it's super-nice to help budget our one income. I often have to call him and tell him his money is here. It's nice to find a super-easy-going landlord).

"What appliances are included with the rent?" (if you don't see the place before moving, you might move in with no fridge or no washer dryer. Or maybe an EXTRA washer dryer if the rental comes with a set).

We are hoping to relocate soon too, so we've started a list of questions when/if we can sell our house!
1. Ask to see a floor plan or interior pictures
2. Pets
3. School district AND which elementary school within that district... a district can be in "good standing", but can have multiple schools not "in good standing"
4. If there is carpet- when was it last replaced and/or steam cleaned. Will it be done before you move in?
5. Were the last renters smokers? If so, will the house be repainted before you move in?
6. Life necessities in proximity (grocery store, library, parks, dry cleaners, Target,etc)
7. What utilities are included? Which are not? What are the average utility costs per month if not included?
8. What modifications are you allowed to make (paint, pictures on the wall, window treatments, etc)
9. If an appliance breaks, who is responsible? How is it handled?
10. Is the owner also the property manager? Who is the direct contact?
11. Backyard... is there one? Is it fenced? Can you put up a swing set or sandbox?
12. Do the property managers ever come to the house unannounced? (They are allowed to, but it would freak me out)
13. Do they expect to make any major renovations or changes during your rental agreement? (Think roof, driveway, windows, etc)

Ask if they have air conditioning and what schools are in the area.

Hope your move goes well! I live in South Texas, so can't give specifics, but as a I've been a homeowner and a renter and worked in real estate and renting has been a nightmare, so I can give you an earful!

Distinguish between renting directly from an owner versus a property management company. Make sure you read contracts carefully because many of these companies have all kinds of nit picky little things like they charge a fee on repairs, etc.

Visit the neighborhood! This is SOOOOO important, drive through it at all times of the day, morning, mid-day, night. I wish I would have done that with our house becuase what is seemingly a quiet and nice neighborhood has all kinds of riff raff drive through it and kids from the elementary school walk through people's yards and throw trash and quite frankly, the people are unfriendly. So...be really picky and check it out from all angles and perspectives.

Check the house for major issues really well. 2 months after we moved in to ours, we found black mold behind a loose shower tile and major water damage! Be demanding! Stand your ground on having proper repairs done and done timely. Be sure you know what your responsibilities are in terms of yard care, whether there is an HOA and who pays the fee and whether or not you can use the facilities and whether or not the owner or manager makes unannounced visits, etc.

Just look at everything with a magnifying glass and remember that usually homes that are used for rentals, unfortunately are beaten up and you will be limited to what improvements and changes you can make or request.

Best wishes, cross country moves are crazy, I've done it 3 times!!! Fort Worth is a great city and there's so much to see and do in and around.

Make sure you ask if you have to have renters insurance... some landlords require it. Ask who pays if something breaks, like the fridge or washing machine. Even better, ask if appliances are included. See if they'll let you paint, and if so, will they reimburse you for the cost of anything DIY home repair related. Ask who their preferred plumber/electrician is, if you need to call the landlord first, ask if the house has an oil carrier built into the lease (if it's oil heated)... ask who's responsible for maintaining the property, etc.

I've rented for forever ;) Let me know if you have any other questions! Good luck!

One thing you should think about before you sign the lease is how long you are planning to stay in the house. Usually the lease term is one year, if you plan on moving out sooner, I would try to negotiate something shorter.

When we moved here and rented first, we agreed on a one year lease term and when the year was up I asked the landlady to change it to month-by-month with 30 day notice. It is easier to move out when you don't have to wait for your lease to be up.

First- while I don't live there, the Fort Worth area can be a really great place!

As for questions- since you are in that area you won't need to ask about snow or anything since it rarely does there and the entire state doesn't really do well.
- how long do maintence requests take to get answered
- how many families live in the area
- do you have quiet hours
- a carefully worded question about the facilities demographics (families, college kids, young people, old people etc...)
- last time they renovated
-ammenities included
- how are things paid (rent- do you have to pay by check in person, drop it off, by mail, can you do credit card; utilities etc... )

ask about average utility cost per month - who's responsible for yard work sometimes you can even work out a deal - you can mow the lawn and trim the bushes for a reduction off the rent for what the landlord now pays for that. good luck!