Madeline Sanders, a CMN staff writer, asked Libby Gonzales of Realty Right Texas, a Houston real estate firm to give CMN readers some key points to think about when they begin hunting for a new home.
Q: What are the advantages of using a realtor to find a rental as opposed to going through the process on their own?
Gonzales: "The advantages of using a realtor is the realtors know whats avaialable. Realtors know if the area is nice or has had a lot of recent foreclosures in the area that would bring the neighborhood down. Another way buyers look for houses is drive around the area they like. With gas prices so high that would cost them alot of gasoline."
Q: How many applicants on average do you see for a place?
Gonzales: "I get an average of 4 to 6 clients for every new listing I post on craigslist."
Q: On average about how long does a place stay on the market before it is leased?
Gonzales: "It depends on the area the rental is in. If it is a great area like central Houston it's usually no more than seven days, if it's a nice home."
Q: What are the main factors for people renting homes? Type of property? House? Apartment? Area? Size? Price?
Gonzales: "Well, it's really the neighborhood and the price of the home. People will compromise around the square footage or how many bathrooms they want, if the price and location are good."
Q: Since everyone is renting right now, what are some ways that renters can stand out on their applications?
Gonzales: "I think if you write a letter of recommendation about yourself. Tell the owners a little bit about yourself, so you can stand out from the next application."
Q: What is the biggest mistake you see renters make when searching for a place?
Gonzales: "I see renters want to look at everything that is available to make a decision. If you look at too many homes, they start to look all alike. I think renters can pick out their top five to seven and be able to select a nice home."
Q: Are there any mistakes that you've seen renters make on their application that makes them a less likely to be a candidate for the property?
Gonzales: "If renters put any personal details about themselves on the application. Getting too deep into the reasons they are moving can also sometimes hurt them."
Q: Are there any common misconceptions that you've seen a lot of renters have about the search process or renting in general?
Gonzales: "People looking to lease homes want to get a head start on finding something. And with homes for lease, that's immpossible because one day the house is available and the next day it has been leased. Owners cannot wait longer than 30 days for someone to move in."
Q: Do you have any special things that you like to make sure your customers look for in a house? Safety? Energy efficiency?
Gonzales: "I think renters need to find a home that'ss best for them. If they need a lot of space, than they need look for more square footage. If they are trying to save on money on utilities, get a smaller home that is one story. Renters need to remember they are leasing a home from the owner and help the owner pay his expenses each month. Don't put too much money into a rental home to make it comfortable to live in."
Q: What issues do you think a smart renter should always bring up with their realtor before signing a lease?
Gonzales: "The realtor should let the renter know about all the expenses upfront, before submitting the application to the landlord. That includes application fees, deposits, pet deposit, trash expenses, or any details owner might require."
Source: http://www.cmn.com/2012/03/headline-here/
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