Finding a new home can be both exciting and stressful. Not only do you have to find a convenient home that suits your needs, you also need to consider a lot of different things all at once when you’re renting. Many people house hunt for a long time, so when they find something that suits them they may be tempted to jump in without caution. This is nearly always a mistake, as there are common things that get overlooked in the process of renting a new home.

What's Included

When you’re renting a home, perhaps the most important question to be asking yourself and your potential landlord is what the rent includes. How many appliances are in the unit? What happens when those appliances break down? Has the unit been painted? Is the carpet cleaned? Do you have storage space, or does that cost extra? What about heating and electricity? What are the average light and heating bills like in the building? Are you allowed pets? What about parking? Is there a car-washing area in the parkade? What types of deposits are required before you move in? Know what you're getting for your money and exactly how much it will cost.

Your Neighbours

Often, we completely overlook asking about our neighbours, yet many people report having incidents with their neighbours, especially within rental apartments and units. It’s a good idea to ask your landlord for a rundown about the type of people who live in your neighbourhood. Are there issues already between tenants? Are your schedules similar? What about your life styles? The more similar you are to your neighbours, the less likely you are to have problems with them. This is especially important if you have kids. Others kids in the neighborhood is a good sign! When you're coming and going, try to talk to any people you see to get their impression of the neighborhood.

Your Potential Landlord…

If you were to have a problem with your rental, does your landlord have a cellular phone where they can be reached? How far are they away from your new home? How committed to this property are they? Do they have other properties, or a property manager on site to handle emergencies? Get to know a little about your potential landlord so you know if you're a fit.

Once you’ve asked these important questions, you’ll have a very clear picture of whether this home is the right one for you. Only sign a tenancy agreement once you understand what it means and what it includes, and be sure that your verbal agreements are all included within that written contract.

This guest post is from Allison with RentersInsurance.com. Head to this site to purchase a great renters insurance policy for your next rental unit.