The rental market continues to be a strong force in the South Florida real estate market. I’ve put together some tips below that may help you in get the best value for money.
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Some real estate firms do not charge a fee to work with a renter, so you may want to looking into working with a Realtor to have someone who can tap into all of the available resources in finding the homes that fit your criteria, plus, you’ll have someone who can look out for your best interests and who is familiar with the entire process. You can save a lot of time by having your Realtor do a lot of the legwork involved with locating the right placed based upon your needs, and also handle the negotiations and paperwork. Basically, you can have an expert working for you at no extra expense.
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If you have flexibility in terms of location, you may be able to find a better value in different areas. They always say location, location, location, and these sought-after areas can command a higher rent price. So, having flexibility in terms of where you will rent can save you some money.
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Rent only what you need. If you need a 3 bedroom home, and are looking at 4 or 5 bedroom homes because the extra space is nice to have, you may be wasting money on what you don’t really need. Remember that renting a home is mostly a short-term situation and when your contract ends with that landlord, and you move on to the next home, all you take with you is your furniture.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate. If an owner is asking $2,000 a month for rent, and the rental market in that area only bears $1,800 a month for comparable housing, submit the offer for $1,800 along with comparable homes for the landlord to review. The key in this to encourage the landlord to make a decision based upon facts and what the current market will bear.
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On a final note, read everything before you sign it, especially the lease. Make sure you are comfortable and fully understand all the terms, as it is a contract and is legally binding. You don’t want to get into a situation that could cost you money that you didn’t plan on.
Good luck! If you need assistance with locating a rental home in the Southwest Broward area, including Pembroke Pines, Weston, Davie, Cooper City, Miramar or neighboring communites, feel free to drop me a line. I’d love to help!