What Should A First Time Chicago Renter Look Out For?
Renting your first Chicago Apartment can be exciting. But it can also prove to be extremely stressful if you are unfamiliar with the Chicago apartment rental process. To help make things easier, we have put together a list of helpful tips and pointers. Your experience with your first rental should be a positive one.
We will take a look at how to deal with neighbors, renters insurance, managing finances, tenant rights and renting with poor credit. We will also give you a few tips on what to look for in a neighborhood. Hopefully, by the end of this guide, you will be ready to move in to your new apartment with as little stress as possible.
Renting a Chicago apartment with poor credit
For those of you who have poor credit, you will already understand how difficult it can be to find the perfect apartment. Unfortunately, simple mistakes made years ago can have a negative impact on your ability to be able to rent. This doesn’t mean that finding an apartment to rent in Chicago with poor credit is impossible.
Everyone’s circumstances and situations change. If you can demonstrate your ability to be able to make rent payments on time every month, then your chances will increase. As an example, providing an employment contract clearly stating your monthly income will go a long way with helping.
Another viable option is to use a lease guarantor. A lease guarantor is the perfect work around for those with little or no credit history too. In a nutshell, a lease guarantor is an individual who guarantees payment of rent should the rentee default on the payments. You can use a professional guarantor service or a family member who doesn’t mind helping.
However, you need to make sure that you keep on top of your rent payments. Failure to pay on time will result in the guarantor having to make the payments on your behalf. This not only makes you look unreliable, but can also cause bad feelings between family and friends. Ideally, a lease guarantor should be a last option.
Managing Your Finances
Moving into a new apartment can be a costly process. There are various different factors that are overlooked when it comes to budgeting. When you think about the moving process, just about every aspect of it will require payment of some type. But what types of costs should you factor into your budget?
Your first priority will be the down payment and first month’s rent for your new Chicago apartment. But there are other costs involved besides rental and deposit costs. Before you can move into your new apartment you need to move out of your old one. Think about packing boxes, transportation, labor costs, final payments for utilities and storage.
You also need to think about connecting utilities in your new apartment and purchasing any furniture that you may need. One of the best ways to go about working out your budget is to create a spreadsheet. It is surprising just how easy it is to plan your finances when you can see everything printed in black and white. Once you have worked out your total budget, aim to have a few hundred dollars on top for unexpected expenses.
Understand Your Obligations And Tenants Rights
Understanding the terms governing subleasing, co-signing, who is responsible for maintenance, what types of modifications you can make, noise levels and so on, are all important. Don’t simply scan through an apartment rental lease and sign on the dotted lines. Spend some time deciphering each section and make sure that you understand everything clearly.
If legal jargon is confusing you and you’re not quite sure what the lease actually says, don’t be afraid to ask a legal professional to run through it with you. As soon as you fully understand what is expected of you and what you can expect from your landlord or building management, sign away.
Arrange Renters Insurance
Renter’s insurance is not a requirement, but it is always a good idea to have it. In its simplest terms, renters insurance protects the valuables in your home that belongs to you. Your landlord’s insurance won’t cover your personal belongings. This is your responsibility.
When looking at the types of belongings that renters insurance in Chicago covers, personal property such as bicycles, personal electronics, furniture and computers are included. Typically, renters insurance covers losses caused by theft, vehicles, vandalism, snow, ice or sleet, lightning, wind, fire and storms.
When moving into a new apartment, accidents can and do happen. Unfamiliar floor plan layouts, poorly placed furniture and open windows can all lead to loss or damage of your personal belongings. Renter’s insurance can save you a small fortune should you encounter any unfortunate situations.
How To Deal With Neighbors
Just like you can’t choose your family, you can’t choose your neighbors. When living in a rental apartment in Chicago, great neighbors who are friendly and helpful are what everyone wants. In an ideal world, every neighbor would be perfect. Unfortunately, bad neighbors do exist and can make life pretty unpleasant.
Nobody likes to be the person who always looks like they’re complaining about noise. But if you’re not happy with your neighbors, there are ways to approach the situation. More often than not, having a friendly word with them is all that it takes. It’s easy to forget that noise travels through apartments, and sometimes, the volume can get a little loud.
Your neighbors don’t exactly know what you can hear as they don’t live in your apartment. If you have approached the situation to no avail, then your next step is to talk to your landlord or building manager. This should always be your second step and not your first. If you want to have good relationships with your neighbors, talking to them directly is preferable.
Know What You Need
Knowing what you need in the local area will help you choose the perfect neighborhood. Chicago is a vast city filled with modern infrastructure and facilities. Are you a family with young children? If yes, then you will most likely want to be near a school. Will you be working on the other side of the city? Choosing a neighborhood near public transport can help eliminate rush hour traffic.
Other things to consider when looking for your first Chicago rental apartment are open green spaces, such as parks and gardens. Nearby grocery stores and medical facilities. It is also a good idea to take a look at the streets in the neighborhood. Is there a lot of noisy traffic? And are the sidewalks in condition? These all help choose the perfect place to set up home and make moving to Chicago a pleasure instead of a pain.
The Way Forward For Chicago Rental Apartments
If you are looking for apartments for rent in Chicago and are worried about the way to go about it, Hunter Properties is the perfect choice. Unlike many other apartment rental businesses, Hunter Properties does not require a security deposit. All prospective tenants are vetted before signing a rental lease, meaning you can expect quality neighbors.
Another great thing about using Hunter Properties is that rent payments can be made online or at a drop box in certain buildings. Should your apartment require any work, maintenance can be requested online and the after-hours emergency number means you are taken care of around the clock.
Aside from the above benefits of using Hunter Properties, there is also a large selection of apartments across Chicago from Albany Park to Wrigleyville. So, if you are ready to make the move to Chicago and are looking for your first rental apartment. Hunter Properties eliminates many of the most common uncertainties and streamlines the process. Finding and renting your first rental apartment in Chicago has never been so easy.
