Many times, people never consider the cost of maintenance or upkeep associated with renting. That means in addition to the cost of the actual rent, you would also have some other expenses to think about such as utilities. However, what happens when you do not go through the contract line-by-line only to discover you have the responsibility of maintenance too. Unfortunately, this happens all too often.
Because of these hidden fees, it is so important to know exactly what is in the rental lease. You would be amazed at how many people fail to read anything but the large print. Sometimes, rental apartments, houses, and other dwellings will have yards. While nice for children and pets, this would be something to understand as far as responsibility. In other words, who will mow the yard?
Now, just as you want to know what parts of the maintenance you would be responsible for, keep in mind that rental homes in need of repair could also be used to your advantage. For instance, if you find a home in disrepair, you might use this as a negotiating tool for a reduction in rent. Let us say the interior of the home needed to be painted. Ask the landlord about taking 50% off the first month’s rent in lieu of you ding the painting.
Obviously, the most important thing is choosing a safe rental home. Therefore, while you might barter for painting, sticky doors, cleaning, and other similar acts, you should be very wary of things such as leaking pipes, damaged floors, cracked walls, and so on. If you are handy and understand repairs, then some of these maintenance items may be within reason but just make sure you are not taking on more then what you can afford to keep or want to keep in good condition.