You’ve Decided on a Place to Rent: What to Ask for Before You Sign

You’ve seen a place you think will do just nice, except for a few things. There are just a few things missing before you would call that place a winner.

It turns out that most landlords are actually open to making a few concessions to secure a deal. You can request for things to be added or removed from the place as part of negotiations.
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What are the typical things renters ask for before sealing the deal?

White goods

​Washing machines, dryers and refrigerators are the most common things to ask for when it comes to appliances.

Other appliances may include ovens and dish washers.

You can of course try your luck with other appliances, but these are the most common.

Related to laundry is a clothes-drying rack. They can cost a pretty penny to install, so it’s an upgrade that not many landlords will agree to, but at the same time make the place easier to rent out, especially if the place is small. 

Automatic gate

​If you are renting a house without an automatic electronic gate and you drive, you can try asking for one to make your life easier.

They cost thousands of dollars to install, so it’s an investment into the potential future earnings for the landlord.

Be strategic in your negotiation and you might just get it. 

Painting​

​If the walls are not in good shape, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for a new coat of paint for certain rooms or in fact the whole place. This is considered a basic requirement for any place you rent. 

​Cleaning

These days it is rare that a landlord hand over a place that is not clean, as it’s always the previous tenant’s responsibility to clean a place when their lease ends.

If, however, during the viewing the place is not clean, you state this requirement during negotiations, just to make sure you have it in writing.

​Furnishings

Related to cleaning is the removal of furniture that you do not want.

However, some listings will state that the place is semi-furnished, which means during viewings you have to ask agents which pieces of furniture will remain.

Occasionally, previous tenants will leave behind some furniture, hoping the next tenant will take over, letting them off the hook from paying someone to remove used furniture. Feel free to keep them or request for their removal as you desire.

Vice versa, it is common for tenants to request for wardrobes or beds. They are considered major expenses and difficult to move from place to place, so tenants may request for such furnishings, especially if they are workers with limited budgets.

Curtains are also a cost and a hassle to procure, especially if the windows are odd-shaped or very tall. They are a great way to add personality to your rooms, so you’d have to weigh the pros and cons of getting them on your own.
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Landlords are usually quite happy to provide them since you will cover the cost of getting them cleaned before you hand the property back.

​Assessment of major items

If the place is old and you forsee significant maintenance costs, you can request to have professionals assess the place, just to understand what your potential liability might be.

The automatic gate mentioned before can become problematic as this system is outdoors, subject to intense heat and storms. It could be worth your while to ask the agent if you can appoint a gate specialist to inspect the system before you agree to rent the place.
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Another often overlooked items is the lightning surge protector. What can possibly happen is that during your work virtual meetings you are presenting and suddenly there is a blackout because there is a storm outside.
Again, if the house is old, it may be worthwhile getting a professional to take a look. 

​Aircon

The aircon issue can be tricky. During your one-month warranty period, they can somehow perform well enough. It’s afterwards when the quarterly servicing starts (usually required of you in the tenancy agreement) that the contractor highlights that your units need a thorough chemical clean.

Chemical cleaning can cost up to $250 per unit. Could you have possibly avoided this cost if you had asked for this to be included in the negotiations with the agent/landlord?

Are there other things you can ask for during the negotiations for a rental?
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Let us know in the comments!