NEWS

First move? 9 tips to make it easier

Jessie Balmert
Gannett Ohio
Couple Placing Sofa In Living Room Of New Home

So you've scored your first job and are looking for a nice, new apartment. Or you're hoping to move far away from your neighbor's midnight rock band practices.

An estimated 35 million Americans will move this year, and May kicks off that season. The top reason renters plan to move in 2015 is to find a more affordable apartment, according to an Apartments.com survey.

The average American will move between 11 and 12 times in a lifetime, and the average in-state move cost $1,170 in 2014, according to the American Moving and Storage Association. With all that time and money invested, it's important to choose the right place, avoid scams and understand your lease.

Experts shared their tips on how to move well:

1. Understand what you can afford

Paying more than 30 percent of your monthly income in rent will likely strain your budget, said Linda Cook, a senior attorney with the Ohio Poverty Law Center.

"That's kind of a line there," Cook said.

Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing might have difficulty paying for other needs, such as clothing, food and medical care. Despite this, an estimated 12 million renters spend more than 50 percent of their annual incomes on housing, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

But even 30 percent might be too high if you have other large expenses, such as student loans, said Wendy Froehlich, vice president of marketing at ForRent.com, an apartment finder service. She suggested using one of several online rent calculators to estimate how much you can afford to spend.

Most landlords will require proof that you earn three times the monthly rent in gross income, said Betsy Liska, president and founder of Ohio Landlord Association. That helps to ensure you will be able to cover the cost of the space, she said.

2. Check your credit

A good credit score is key to being approved for an apartment, Liska said. Renters can improve their scores by paying bills on time and managing a few credit cards well; they can destroy their credit score by being evicted, she said.

"Always check your credit before you start this process," Froehlich agreed. "If you have no credit because you're right out of college, open up a small credit card to make sure you are trustworthy."

People with no credit can still rent an apartment, but they might need someone to co-sign the lease with them or pay a larger deposit, Froehlich said.

If prospective renters have poor credit, they should have personal references, a history of job stability and an explanation for the poor credit, Liska said.

"Most landlords are understanding if it's a medical bill. If it's utilities or credit cards, it's a different story," Liska said.

You can check your credit for free through services such as Experian, Equifax and Transunion.

3. Know the vibe of the area

Do you want to live next to an elementary school or a bar? Do you want to drive 30 minutes to work or take a five-minute bus ride?

"Before you commit to living in a place, make sure you are familiar with commute times, walking distances to local hot spots and school districts," Froehlich said.

Those intangibles might not seem important in the beginning, but if you are spending a year of your life in an area, you should like where you live, she said.

You also can check crime levels in the area by contacting the local police department.

4. Avoid rental scams

One of the more prevalent rental scams is the fake listing. It starts with someone obtaining the address and picture of an apartment posted online. The scammer then reposts it on another website, typically at a lower rate.

People interested in the property are asked to send hundreds or thousands of dollars via wire transfer to secure the property. Once the money is wired, the fake landlord disappears.

To avoid this scam, renters should be skeptical of below-market rental rates, avoid sending money for rent until they've seen the property and be wary of requests for wire transfers. You also can copy and paste the picture of the property into a search engine to see whether there are additional listings, the Ohio Attorney General's Office advises.

The Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio also warns against dealing with landlords who are out of the country or use broken English. You should have a face-to-face meeting with the person posting the listing.

5. Use social media

Never before have so many apartment reviews been at your virtual fingertips, so the savvy renter should take advantage, Froehlich said.

Websites, such as apartmentratings.com and rent.com, allow tenants to provide feedback on their current or past rental experiences. Some apartment complexes have Facebook pages where people can comment as well.

Be aware that negative comments are typically more common than positive ones.

"People like to complain and not give praise. Whether you're looking for a new car or place to live, you can kind of take them with a grain of salt," Froehlich said.

It's important to watch how landlords respond to complaints and bad reviews. Their reactions are are good indication of how responsive they will be to your concerns, Froehlich said.

6. Document everything

"Get everything in writing," said Cook, with the Ohio Poverty Law Center.

Get your lease in writing if the landlord is a businesswoman who owns hundreds of properties. Get your lease in writing if your landlord is your mother-in-law. It cannot be said enough, Cook said.

All leases must include the landlord's name and address, how much the rent is, where rent is to be paid and the form of payment, when rent must be paid, the amount of late fees, which utilities the tenant is responsible for paying and who will take care of garbage, snow removal and grass cutting.

If you fall behind on your rent and the landlord agrees to be flexible, get that in writing, too, Cook said. That way, if you have a falling out and the landlord wants to evict you, you have documentation.

"If you don't show you have agreement, that can be very difficult to prove," Cook said.

Cook also advised taking pictures of the condition of the apartment when you move in. Keep the pictures and any inspections for when you are trying to get your deposit back later.

7. Make room for Fluffy

While more apartments are becoming pet friendly, there's no standard for pet rents and deposits in Ohio.

"Landlords charge different rates for deposits and monthly fees," said Liska with the Ohio Landlord Association. Tenants also are responsible for damage caused by their pets.

Those deposits might be higher for animals over a certain weight, and tenants should factor pet rent costs into their apartment budget, Froehlich said.

Most apartment finder websites allow you to search for places that allow pets, she said.

"If you know that up front, you won't fall in love with a place that doesn't allow your pet," Froehlich said.

It's also important to notify your landlord if you bring a new pet home. Adding another animal could violate your lease and get you evicted if you aren't careful, she said.

8. Purchase rental insurance

Renter's insurance is an important and underused tool in protecting your property, Liska said.

An InsuranceQuotes.com survey found six in 10 renters don't have renter's insurance. About 48 percent thought their landlord's insurance would cover their damaged property.

That's a common misconception, Liska said. If another tenant accidentally starts a fire in the building, your landlord's insurance won't cover damage to your furniture, electronics and other belongings.

Reader Alicia Weissinger Gibson, of Coshocton, agreed: "Get renter's insurance! Landlord's insurance only covers their property in the event of fire, flood or other disaster. You need renter's insurance to cover your property."

The average cost of rental insurance is about $15 per month, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Compared with car or health insurance, renter's insurance is a minimal cost, Liska said.

9. Check out your mover

The Better Business Bureau offered several tips on avoiding scams on moving day, including researching your mover at protectyourmove.gov.

Every interstate moving company must be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which keeps records on whether movers and licensed and provides information about their state safety records.

The BBB suggests that you shop around for at least three in-home estimates to avoid fake offers from online scammers. Those moving also should consider accepting full value protection, which might cost a few dollars more but will cover the cost of your property if damage occurs.

Chillicothe Gazette reader Stacie Sims also offered some advice for those packing:

"Take your time and pack your boxes right. It will make for much easier unpacking! Run breakables in your car and everything else in the moving truck if the move is nearby."