When you want to rent a home, there are steps that must be followed and to ensure you not only find the perfect home that suits your budget and lifestyle, but also give you memories that are fun to recall and share with friends with loved ones.<\/span><\/p>\n This article helps you put everything you need to know into fine perspective. Below are some questions that you should ask yourself:<\/span><\/p>\n This is the very first question you need to ask yourself and it is important to provide an honest and realistic answer. If you live in Lagos for instance, you should ask yourself if you want a self-contain, mini flat, a two-bedroom flat, a three-bedroom flat, a four-bedroom flat, a five-bedroom flat, a duplex or something even bigger.<\/span><\/p>\n You cannot embark on a search for a property if you do not know what you want. For instance, if you want a two bedroom apartment in the Ikeja axis of Lagos, you should focus your search on this area. In essence, be clear about what you want and then you can commence searching for the particular property you have in mind.<\/span><\/p>\n To make things easier, write out your criteria for what you consider your ideal apartment. What things do you want your apartment to have? Do you want a one-room space or a mini-flat? Do you want a small apartment or one with a very large space? Do you want a house that is close to a landmark or do you prefer a house in a gated neighbourhood? Do you want a serviced apartment or do you want it close to a shopping mall? Is it compulsory your place of residence is close to your office or are you indifferent to this? Are you concerned about the reputation of the neighbourhood you live or do you prefer quiet places like G.R.A Ikeja?<\/span><\/p>\n You can’t possibly write out everything you want in your apartment but you should write as much as you can. The idea is to narrow down the possibilities and expectations. <\/span>It is very important that you prioritise your wants as it is a crucial stage in your search for a property.<\/span><\/p>\n After deciding what kind of house you want to search for, the next thing on your agenda is your budget. Can you afford the house? Here, you need to be practical. If for instance, your budget for a three-bedroom flat is N350, you should naturally not be searching for a home in a place like Ikeja where a three-bedroom apartment goes for between N1 million and N3.2 million. You should also rule out a place like Ikoyi where a three-bedroom flat has its rent set between N3 million and N20.4 million.<\/span><\/p>\n Instead, you should concentrate on locations like Ikorodu, Agege, Iyana Ipaja, Abule Egba, Shasha, Ikotun, Epe, Agbado Ijaiye, Idimu, Mushin, Okota.<\/span><\/p>\n A budget helps you draw up a realistic picture of what you want whether you can afford it or not. Therefore, before you start searching for a house, decide what your budget is.<\/span><\/p>\n When searching for a home, you must be sure you will be able to pay your rent annually. Make a firm decision on what you can afford. It is recommended that you spend not more than 30% of your monthly income on your rent. For instance, if you earn N100,000 monthly as your net income, you should not save more than N30,000 monthly for your rent. At the end of the year, you would have saved N360,000, which would cover your rent.<\/span><\/p>\n Another thing you should put into consideration is the financial responsibility of utility cost of renting the apartment. Some apartments are serviced. As such, this fee is calculated along with your rent on an annual or monthly basis as the case may be.<\/span><\/p>\n When working to meet your ideal rent budget, there are a number of things you can do to lower the monthly spend on rent. Take a look at some of them below:<\/span><\/p>\n The fact that you are searching for a place to live does not mean that you intend to carry the financial responsibility alone. In some cases, you could find yourself having a friend, cousin, colleague or family friend suggesting or agreeing to split the financial burden of the apartment with you. <\/span><\/p>\n Picture a scenario where your rent is N600,000 but you have a friend who is willing to pay N200,000 to have a room in your three-bedroom flat situated in Ogba in Lagos. This saves you a lot of money and offers a form of flexibility. You should think about the potential growth of your family and how long you may want to be living there.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, there are features you personally desire in an apartment, depending on your taste or lifestyle but below are some basic things you should look out for:<\/span><\/p>\n Now that you are sure of what you want as far as your apartment is concerned, it is time to start searching. A good way to start is visiting a trusted <\/span>property website<\/span><\/a> and going through property listings that fit your criteria.Searching online makes the task of narrowing down your search much easier, it also gives you a number of added advantages: <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don’t limit your search to searching online. You should speak to friends and family and ask if they have direct access to a homeowner. The idea is to keep an open mind. In some cases, you could actually know one person who would contact the property owner and even negotiate on your behalf. You could also look through popular property magazines to see their listings.<\/span><\/p>\n When you find that property or apartments that you are genuinely interested in, you should proceed to the next step of inspecting the property. You have to set aside a day or two to visit your potential home. It is very important to check out the condition of the house yourself. This is not a task you want to delegate.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n To cover this stage of your search efficiently, we advise that you visit as many properties as you can possibly cover in the day you have set aside for this. Weekends are extremely busy for landlords and real estate agents. What you should do is to set out a working day within the week where possible to get this done. The real estate agent you are working with could help you set up a meeting with the landlord with this or you could call the property owner yourself if you have direct access to him\/her.<\/span><\/p>\n During the inspection, you should strive to make a good first impression. Remember that the landlord will most likely be making observations and evaluating you just as you would be doing. As you check out the landlord to ensure he\/she is someone who is easy to get along with, courteous and responsible. Ironically, the property owner will be doing the same thing to you. Right from the moment you call the landlord, make sure you communicate your thoughts politely and clearly. Also, ensure you are properly dressed. You don’t have to wear a suit, tuxedo or Agbada but you shouldn’t wear a scruffy sweatpant, rumpled T-shirt and flip flops either. Be decently dressed.<\/span><\/p>\n When going for an inspection, endeavour to respect the time of others. You might find this hard to believe but if you arrive late, the landlord could take this as a sign that you would have the habit of paying your rent late.<\/span><\/p>\n Remember to be courteous, smile and be thank him\/her for making out time for the inspection.<\/span><\/p>\n You should also bear in mind that while the inspection is going on, try to make your comments positive and don’t complain about every single thing you are not comfortable with. Don’t be in a hurry. Wait till the landlord is willing to accept you as a tenant. At that point, you can then raise your concerns about the property. Raising complaints too early might tip you off as a nagging tenant. You don’t want to do that at such an early stage.<\/span><\/p>\n As the search for your new apartment continues, this is the point where you draw up a checklist of things to look out for. Take a look at the list below:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once you are done with your personal inspection, it’s time to ask questions. In case you are not sure of what to ask, we have provided a list below to help.<\/span><\/p>\n Remember that when you ask these questions, you have to keep them limited to a reasonable amount. You don’t want to ask a homeowner 57 questions in a stretch and expect him\/her to adore you. It’s also crucial to be polite and friendly when asking these question. It’s not an interrogation after all.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/privateprop.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/African-Family.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/p>\nAre you looking for a house, apartment or studio?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nWhat is your budget?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Who will be living with you?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nWhat are your priorities? <\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nNow that you are ready to begin searching\u2026<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Seek help<\/b><\/h2>\n
Meeting and inspection with the manager or landlord<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Be a preferable tenant<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThings to look out for during inspection<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Time to ask questions<\/b><\/h2>\n
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