5 renting mistakes to avoid before signing a lease

The apartment-hunting process can be daunting, but it's important to make a selection with care. This will help avoid a situation where rent is due before you get paid each month, or a landlord that doesn't respond to maintenance requests.

Jack Gross, broker and owner of Better Homes & Gardens Cassidon Realty, shared five factors future tenants should avoid when looking to rent an apartment or house. Before signing a lease — no matter how perfect the unit may seem — consider these details before putting a deposit down.

Unclear expectations

While some lease agreements may be quite lengthy, Gross warns tenants to avoid skipping the fine print.

"One of the largest areas where tenants make mistakes is in the fact that tenants don't read their lease, and they don't realize certain obligations that might be in there," Gross says.

Common information found in an apartment lease includes rent cost, when rent is due, late fee costs, lease duration, pet restrictions and other obligations agreed upon between the landlord and the tenant. When renting a house, a lease will also include expectations about maintenance. If they aren't included in the lease, Gross suggests clarifying who will be shoveling snow, cutting the grass, and taking care of the house's exterior. Ask your landlord to include these things in the lease — before you sign — so you have the expectations in writing.

Poor communication

Is the landlord professional and easy to reach or not? Poor communication with a landlord is something all renters should avoid.

Gross advises if you are not satisfied with the communication with your landlord, you should follow up every contact in writing, whether that be email or text message. 

A deal that's too good to be true

Be wary of deals that seem too perfect — especially because rental scams are more prevalent than ever.

"If the rent seems really too good to be true, it probably is," he says. Because of the high rental scammer rates, Gross suggests always meeting the landlord and exchanging security deposit money face-to-face. Do not, under any circumstances, pay your security deposit over the phone or online, Gross warns.

DIY maintenance issues

While there are plenty of DIY projects that are renter-friendly, Gross says maintenance issues should always be left to the professionals. "Tenants should never take responsibility for doing repairs," he says. "Those should be done by the owner and only the owner."

Gross advises leaving maintenance to the owner in case a DIY project goes awry. For example, if a tenant tries to repair a leaky sink and accidentally causes further damage, they could be liable for the original cost of the item, plus the cost of the added damage. Leaving the heavy lifting to the landlord will ultimately save time and money for the tenant.

Settling for less

"Just because you're renting, don't think it's not as important as when you're buying," Gross says. While renting a property is temporary, it's still important to do your due diligence before and after signing a lease. Make sure to keep your options open and do extended research into the property.

Don't settle on what you want in a rental or lease agreement. If you are a pet owner, make sure pets are allowed. If you are looking for a year-long lease, don't settle for month-to-month. You're investing in a lifestyle, and your living space will set the tone for your day-to-day life.