7 Questions To Ask Your Real Estate Agent Before Renting A House

If you have ever gone house-hunting, you’ll know how important real estate agents are to the process. They know what houses are available for rent, and can take you on a tour of those places. They can also link you to the property owners, and fill you in on the important details you need to know about a house before you rent it.

You could save yourself from the misfortune of being duped by asking the right questions. This way, you will get your real estate agent to reveal crucial information that’ll enable you to decide whether to settle with the home they’re selling you or not. And if they don’t give you satisfactory answers, it’ll be a sign that you shouldn’t engage them any further.

Here are seven questions you should ask them, presented in no particular order.

How Much Does The Basic Rent Cost?

Before moving into a house, you’ll be required to pay your first rental fee upfront. This fee is usually higher than what it would be in subsequent years. That’s because the initial rental fee also includes other charges.

It’s important to find out what the basic rent is, so you’ll know what you’re likely to be paying in the coming years. The knowledge you get from having this question answered will enable you to decide if the rent is fair in your estimation, or if it’s something you can afford.

What Are The Additional Costs?

As we’ve noted, your initial rental fee will be a combination of the basic rent and other costs (such as an agency fee). Many would-be tenants accept these costs without probing their necessity, or even trying to negotiate them downwards. As such, they miss out on the opportunity to get their initial rent discounted.

If you intend to rent an apartment, make sure you ask for a breakdown of the fees you’re expected to pay. Find out whether any of those fees can be renegotiated or settled at some other time. You might be surprised about the bargains you could secure.

Are Basic Amenities Available?

You intend to live in your new home for at least a year, so you’ll need basic amenities to be in place. Be sure that the house is connected to the power grid, and that there’s a reliable source of clean water. Try to get some guarantee from your real estate agent that these things are available.

Are There Problems With The Environment?

Things you’ll want to know about include flooding, levels of pollution, and erosion. The agent you’re interacting with should be able to tell you whether there are any environmental challenges in the neighbourhood you’re examining.

Again, you’ll have to do more than just ask the agent. Your tour of the property and its surrounding area could give you the answers you seek. If your observations don’t square with the agent’s claims, sticking with them will probably not benefit you.

Are There Unpaid Bills From Previous Occupants?

Don’t ignore this. Unpaid bills left by previous occupants is an all too frequent occurrence. You don’t want to bear their burden in addition to yours. Unfortunately, many prospective tenants don’t do their due diligence in this area and end up struggling with debts that aren’t theirs.

Ask your real estate agent for the most recent power bills for the space you are considering moving into. Don’t settle there until they’re able to provide the relevant documentation proving that there are no outstanding fees.

Can I Speak With The Property Owner?

You need to be sure that the estate agent you’re interacting with is actually acting on behalf of the property owner. Fraudulent actors aren’t rare in the real estate business; it’s important to get confirmation that the agent is acting with the approval of the landlord.

Double-check with other residents in the neighbourhood who may know the property owner. This will reduce your chances of falling for the deceit of a fake agent.

How Can I Reach You?

Real estate agents should be able to provide their contact details when clients request them from them. It’s preferable that you do business with an agent who can be reached in multiple ways, including in-person and via their phone line(s). If they give you an office address, be sure to confirm that they can be found there.

Final Words

You will almost always have to engage real estate agents when you’re hunting for a living space to rent. They can be helpful– if they’re honest. The questions we’ve discussed here will help you to get useful answers from agents, and determine whether they are trustworthy or not.