FAQ

We recommend that once you’ve found a place you like, use the contact information on that property’s page to contact the landlord or property manager. If they have indicated a preferred contact method, use that method at a reasonable time. Email can be anytime, but text messages and especially phone calls should happen between 10 AM – 9 PM unless the landlord has indicated otherwise.

Ask any questions that weren’t answered in the ad – but make sure you have read the ad well! Nothing says “I’m not serious about this” like asking questions that are already clearly answered in the posting. Also, let the landlord know a little bit about yourself. Some things you might consider letting the landlord know or be prepared to answer:

1. Who will be renting the place/how many of you?
2. Where are you living now and why you’re interested in moving to their property?
3. What you do for a living?

After you’ve asked your questions and answered any the landlord may have, assuming you both are still interested in proceeding, that’s when you arrange a viewing. Having a conversation with the landlord first will save you a lot of time and hassle driving out to places that you would never have rented in the first place. At the viewing, take note of how well the property is taken care of. If there are existing tenants, some of that may be out of the landlord’s control, but you should still be able to get an idea of this. If it is a basement suite, duplex, etc, ask who is living in the other suite. Be honest in your questions and answers – if the truth is going to upset this particular landlord then it probably wasn’t a great fit to begin with.

If you love the place after your viewing, ask the landlord about filling out an application or what the next step is. Don’t worry about hurting the landlord’s feelings if you’re not interested, it’s business and you’re really saving them time and saving yourself having to explain down the road that you’re not interested. Typically, landlords will screen your references, run credit/criminal record checks, check employment/income, etc before signing a lease. This can take 1-3 business days. After that, you sign the lease (if there is one) and pay the damage deposit. Be sure you get a receipt for it!

Did we miss anything? Let us know and good luck out there!