If you have ever rented a home from a Salt Lake City property manager, you know first hand how stressful the process can be. Not only are you consumed with finding a home, but the contract process can be overwhelming after you’ve finally found the perfect living space. With so much information to digest, it is common to overlook important things to ask before signing a lease with a property management company. Below are three important questions to ask a property management company before you move in:
Question #1:
When is rent due and how do I pay?
One of the most important questions to ask before signing a lease is how rent can be paid. The majority of property management companies in Salt Lake have the capability to accept online payments. This can make paying rent extremely convenient and help to avoid any late fees, especially if automatic payments can be set up. However, some property managers require a cashiers check and do not accept cash. Don’t get caught unaware your first month, late fees can pile up, especially if you aren’t provided with a grace period.
If you have rented a home in Salt Lake City in the past, you may have been fortunate enough to be provided with a grace period. However, it is becoming more and more common that property management companies are requiring rent to be paid by the first of the month and the late fee can be significant if it is not received on time. That’s why it’s one of the first things to ask before signing a lease.
Question #2:
How are maintenance requests submitted and how long does it take to address the issue?
The next thing on the list of questions to ask a property management company before leasing has to do with maintenance issues. One of the primary benefits of renting from a property management company in Salt Lake City is that maintenance requests are usually taken extremely seriously. Before signing the lease agreement, it is important to clarify how maintenance requests are to be submitted and what phone number should be used for emergency situations. Most property managers will want the issue to be submitted in writing and have the capability to accept the maintenance request online. It is also very important to ask how long it typically takes to respond to these requests and the timeline to resolve most issues.
If you end up in a situation where you require maintenance to be done quickly, knowing the correct method of reporting issues and requesting repairs can save you valuable time. That’s why asking about maintenance issues ranks number 2 on our list of questions to ask before signing a lease.
Question #3
How can the lease agreement be terminated?
When entering into the contract, the last thing you are probably thinking about is canceling your lease agreement. However, the fact of the matter is your situation may change and it is important to outline the process for early termination. Most property management companies in Salt Lake City do have policies for that and will offer an early termination option. Whether or not your property management company has an early termination policy is an extremely important thing to ask a before signing a lease. You will want to confirm what steps you would need to take to be able to cancel your lease.
We hope that you never are in a situation where you enter into a lease agreement before receiving all of the important information. It is better to ask a lot of questions and be comfortable with the decision than sign a contract and regret it later. Hopefully, you will keep this list of questions to ask before signing a lease in mind the next time you are looking to move into a new residence.
If you are a tenant that is interested in renting a home in Salt Lake City, please consider renting from Wolfnest Real Estate and Property Management. Search our available rental properties by clicking here
