Questions to ask before you sign a lease

Signing a lease always makes me nervous. Anyone else? What if it turns out to be a bad fit? What if I neglected to ask about something really important? It’s hard not to feel anxious about making an expensive and semi-permanent mistake, so if you feel the same way, below are some questions to ask that will help you make a more informed decision before you sign your name on the dotted line:

Is parking included?

It’s a given in most suburban and rural communities that parking will be included, but that’s not always the case in an urban setting. In many city apartment buildings, it’s common for only one parking spot to be included in the price of the lease. An additional parking spot can often run upwards of $150 per month, if it’s even an option, so be sure to ask about the parking situation. If you’re renting a townhouse or row home in a city, you may not have any designated parking spots and you’ll unfortunately be at the mercy of first-come, first-served street parking.

What utilities are included?

Be sure to ask what utilities are required (I was once surprised by a hot water heater that required a gas line), and read the lease carefully to find out what is covered and what is not. I’ve lived in many apartments where water and sewer were included in the price, but that isn’t always the case. Included utilities can vary wildly, so if you must stay below a certain budget make sure you know all of the added utility costs before signing the lease.

Can I paint the walls or hang pictures?

Some communities or landlords are real sticklers when it comes to painting or hanging things on the wall, but occasionally a property management company will paint one accent wall for you as part of your leasing agreement. Every leasing situation is different, so make sure[…]

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