Today is the day you’ve been waiting for. It is the day you get to do a walk-through of your favorite rental property you’ve put loads of time and effort into obtaining for you and your family. During your walk-through, everything looks perfect. You won’t believe how amazing this house is. Fast forward to move-in day, and you begin to notice that things aren’t exactly how you want them to be. At this point, unfortunately, it may be too late to complain. So we are here to help you learn 7 VERY important things to do on your next (or any) rental home walk-through.

1. Open and Close All Doors and Windows
This seems extremely silly, but you’d be surprised by the number of times something as small as a door opening and closing properly has caused an issue. Ensure there are no snags when you try to close the door(s); double-check the weather stripping. Is it in good shape? If not, this could allow a lot of cold air during the winter and hot air during the summer. Do this to all the doors in the house, including interior doors (although these doors will not normally contain weather stripping).

2. Run Faucets in the Kitchen, Bathrooms, and Anywhere Else
Make sure every faucet in the home works to your liking. Sometimes, faucets can spray water in weird ways or not work. Do they drain properly? Are there any odd odors? Make sure the water pressure seems okay. Does both the hot and cold water work? Test them all to be sure you don’t need to call your landlord on move-in day.

3. Look in Each Closet and Judge If the Space is Adequate
We all wish we had a millionaire’s walk-in closet, but we don’t always get that luxury. So, consider how much stuff your family has when walking through your potential new rental home. Each room may have a different-sized closet; make sure you look and determine if there is adequate space for your family’s things.

4. Thoroughly Inspect the Outside of the Home
Of course, the way things look is extremely important to us all, so be mindful of any huge blemishes or cosmetic issues that will bother you long term, but most importantly, make sure you check for any structural problems that may cause you and your family troubles in the future. Are there any large gaps in the foundation that air or even rodents could enter/exit? If there is siding on the house, is it in good shape? The roof, is it falling apart? Inspect all the windows and framing to ensure they all look the way they should. Go around the house and ensure it is good to go before you decide.

5. Check If Your Appliances Will Work
In the kitchen, you want to ensure your stove will work. Do you currently have a gas or electric stove? What does the rental home accept? Some homes are only electric, some are only gas, and some give the option for both. Next is the dryer. What do you currently own? Does your dryer require a gas line to create heat? Or is it electric? Is it stackable? Front loading? Top loading? Will it fit on or beside your washer in the provided space? If you can’t tell by looking, be sure to ask someone!

6. Will You Fit?
Everything we have already gone over is fine and dandy and very important to do when walking through a house for rent. However, the most important question is, “Will my family fit?”. Are the rooms big enough for your beds? Are there enough rooms? Will you all be able to eat dinner together in the dining room? In the living room, will your couches and chairs fit? You want to consider this in detail because we don’t always have the luxury of getting new furniture for our new home.

7. Make Sure You’re Okay With The Home As It Is
One of the worst mistakes you can make is not caring about the walk-through of your potentially new rental home. If you don’t take the time to follow the previous 6 tips, you could find yourself stuck with problems that bother you and your family for a considerable amount of time. You need to ensure this home will suit you and your family for the duration of your rental agreement. For example, say you move into your new home, and while putting your washer and dryer in place, you realize that the water inlets are not where you’d like them to be. At this point, it is most likely too late to call and complain about the property not being to your liking.

Finding the right house for rent isn’t always a simple task. People and families can often spend weeks or months trying to find the right place to call home. Buckeye Northwest Realty is here to help. Our experienced property managers and staff can guide you through everything you need to ensure you and your family have a long, happy experience in your new home. Contact us today or view our available rental properties to find your next dream home!