The Neighborhood Red Flags to Look for When Renting may be a tip of the iceberg. But, finding the ideal home or apartment to rent can be tricky. In as much as you only foresee yourself living there for a short period of time, it will still be home. For this reason, you need to watch out for red flags to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible.
1. The overall rental market
Are most of the houses occupied? If not, this could be an indicator that the neighborhood is not suitable for you. Reasons for this may be lack of water or frequent power shortages. You can also find out for how long previous tenants lived in those houses to make better decisions. A healthy neighborhood will have many tenants. In fact, they may have many people on the lookout for when they are in the market.
2. The condition of other properties in the area
If most of the houses in the neighborhood are in bad shape and nobody seems to bother, it means they are not worth fixing anyway. It will be good to pay attention to how the area is generally managed. Is there trash all over? Are there Christmas decorations yet we are deep into the new year? Are the curtains hanging outside the windows? Are cars parked aimlessly in front of houses? These tell a lot about the neighborhood you are moving into.
3. The commercial property scene
Ensure that businesses in the area are thriving. This will make your life easier when you need groceries and other items. Imagine having to drive far to get to your mama . To add to that, if you are an entrepreneur, you would like to have your business close by, in case you will relocate. A vibrant commercial scene will therefore be most beneficial to you.
4. The area’s crime rates
Crime in Kenyan neighborhoods can get wild. Ensure the location is safe and you can come in and out comfortably at any time. Also, consider your property value and losing it to thieves. That can be heavily painful. For this reason, you can do a crime checkup via Facebook to determine just how safe you will be there.
5. Activities on the streets
You can take time and visit the neighborhood during the day or at night. When you go at night, you get the feel of how safe the neighborhood is. Moreover, you get to know the level of noise at that particular time. You can determine whether you can withstand such disadvantages by only being present.
6. Get Information From Neighbors
Neighbors can be a great source of information on how it truly feels to live there. They can tell you about the water supply, power outages security concerns. Furthermore, if you move in you will want great relationships with them. It’s safe to start building it while you are house hunting.