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Imagine that you have found that perfect place that you want to live. You and your roommates have all agreed that this is the place and now it is time to start the process of applying. Learning the ins and outs of applying for housing can be difficult and stressful. There are so many documents to fill out and bring with you! Then, there are all the extra actions that you can take to help you stand out from the crowd, like if you should put in a “bid” or bring them with gifts? There are so many things to remember that it can get overwhelming at times. To help you navigate through this sea of stress and paperwork I thought I could make you a checklist of necessities and give a few other tips to assist you along your way.
I have scoured the internet and here is the checklist of necessities you should bring with you when applying for housing:
Upon inspection, most of this list seems pretty straightforward and relatively obvious, right? Of course they want your rental history, credit score, current salary and all that jazz. The parts that can be a little anxiety inducing are things like the cover letter, the letters of reference, having bad credit, or the optional gifts. Let’s dive into those and then maybe they will seem a little less formidable.
If you are like me, you feel like you have written a thousand cover letters when applying to schools and for jobs which means frankly you’re getting sick of them. Do you really have to write a letter when applying for housing too? Yes. Yes, you really do. Writing a cover letter is important in the housing process for a few reasons. First and foremost, it shows that you have a great interest in the place that you are applying. Anyone can submit a bunch of applications to a bunch of different apartments or houses, but writing a cover letter means that you sat down and took the time to think about why you truly want to live here. Additionally, a cover letter gives you the opportunity to explain any blemishes on your renting history and talk yourself up a bit. Here you can also discuss how great of a tenant you are and it isn’t weird! Finally, a cover letter also gives you a chance to show a bit of your personality. Some websites suggest being very formal and treating the application process like you are applying for a job while others suggest using humor and being less formal. I have never been a landlord so I can’t be sure, but if I have learned anything from all the Disney movies that I watched as a kid, it is that it is always better to be yourself. If you are goofy, be goofy, if you are serious, be serious. In the end you need to make sure that you both get the place you are applying for and are comfortable living there.
Even though you are not writing these letters yourself they can still be a source of stress in the application process. The big question that comes up is: Who should you ask for a letter of recommendation? The first and most obvious answer is your former landlord. You should also ask your current employer to write a letter stating that you have a steady and reliable income. If neither of these options are available you can ask the coordinator of the dorm that you lived in during college. As a last resort, you can ask your teachers or get other personal letters of reference. Before you ask, make sure that these people are reliable. Another letter of recommendation that you should consider is one for your pet. It can be difficult to rent a place while having a pet and a letter of recommendation can help ensure that your pet will not destroy the house.
I feel like one of those hokey insurance commercials even writing those words, but it is something that we need to discuss. Many people either have bad credit or no credit at all. What do you do when your credit check is going to be a strike against you? People without great credit scores need a place to live too! In this situation, I recommend having a person offer to co-sign on your lease which can also be referred to as a guarantor. The purpose of a guarantor is pretty straightforward, they agree to pay your rent if you are unable to do so. This simple assurance can do wonders for you when it comes to pacifying a concerned landlord. In the past, I have had friends' parents be guarantors on two of my leases and it made it infinitely easier to find a place to live.
This is a weird area to me. I did not know that some people in real life will make “bids” or bring gifts to landlords, I thought that was just a goofy episode of Friends. It turns out that some people actually do this, which means we need to discuss it. Making a “bid” is just a fancy way of saying that the person is willing to pay more than the landlord is asking either in the security deposit, in the rent or sometimes in both. Personally, I don’t like this idea. It feels like you are just driving the rent prices up and doing yourself a disservice, but hey, if you’re in love you’re in love. Who am I to stop you? Remember that you can look up average rent prices in your area here. Maybe use that link to see how much above average you are willing to pay? Some landlords appreciate this practice and some find it distasteful. It is completely up to you to decide how you want to spend your money. An alternative to voluntarily raising your own rent could be to bring a gift with you when you go to visit the house. A simple gift of beer or wine can make a nice statement without going over the top.
A few final notes before I set you free to apply for the housing of your dream. When you are visiting the house make sure that you come with questions. Having questions is the best way to determine if this is the right place for you to live. Questions can also be your last chance to make an impression and leaving a good one of those can make it easier to get approved for the place that you’re interested in. Finally, be sure to follow up after you have visited the residence. Just like how you have to send a thank-you note after a job interview, you have to follow up after viewing a house. The follow-up shows that you are interested in the house and can help you stand out from all the other applicants. Well, that’s all I’ve got. May the renting odds be ever in your favor!
