subject: 3 Questions You Should Ask Before Leasing A Chicago Apartment [print this page] Frequently, apartment hunters will sign leases without asking important questions. Before lease a Chicago apartment, be sure to find out the following three important details.
What About Maintenance?
No one wants to spend an extraordinary amount of time waiting for repairs to running toilets, broken showers, leaky faucets, and broken air conditioners, water heaters and radiators. It's critical for apartment hunters to find out how landlords will address common maintenance requests. Will there be an on-site superintendent that can address problems in a timely fashion? Does the landlord work with a third-party maintenance provider that can perform repairs at night or on weekends; or will you be forced to wait until Monday morning for service?
Many landlords take maintenance seriously; however, some do not. Before you sign a lease, be sure you are confident that repairs will be handled in an appropriate manner.
Know Your Responsibilities
Before you sign a rental agreement, it's critical that you know your responsibilities. Will you have to pay for water, trash and other utilities; or will your landlord cover these expenses. If the landlord will pay for some or all of these expenses, ask about the process. For instance, if the bills will land in your mailbox, you should know if the landlord will reimburse you or reduce your rent accordingly.
If the property requires some type of outdoor maintenance; find out if the landlord will hire someone to mow, clean and address any other needs, or if he or she will ask you to do it.
Ask About Rules and Restrictions
When prospective renters forget to ask about rules and regulations, they can end up surprised. If you opt to get a dog or cat at some point; will the landlord throw a fit? If he or she agrees, will there be rules regarding the type and size of the pet. Likewise, you should ask if there will be any extra fee tagged on to your monthly rent.
Restrictions can also pertain to friends and family. Many landlords only allow guests to sleep over for a short amount of time. Before you agree to sign a lease, understand what will and won't be allowed.
