Attn Renter or Rental Owners: Now is the Time for Winter Maintenance

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rentals Blog
Even if you live in a rental, the cold, wet weather of winter should prompt you to do some preventative maintenance on your home, both to limit your liability for any potential damage from the elements and to keep your home as comfortable as possible during the winter. Talk with your landlord, both to make sure they are performing their share of required maintenance, and also to find out what tasks are your responsibility.
The Rental Housing Association of Washington has several tips regarding what you can do as a renter to minimize damage to your unit this winter. If your lease requires you to perform yard maintenance, make sure you’re keeping the area around your foundation clear so excess moisture doesn’t build up and seep into the home (check with your landlord before you do anything beyond basic yard cleanup). Bag up fallen leaves and trim shrubs around the perimeter of your house. But don’t pull out that ladder just yet, as it should be the owner or landlord’s responsibility to make sure roofs are sound and gutters are draining correctly.
It is often the tenant’s responsibility to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working, and during the season when more people are using their heat and having fires, it’s important to make sure these are operating correctly. Check your lease to determine if this is something you need to keep an eye on.
Especially in damp climates like ours in the Northwest, it’s important to pay attention to moisture levels inside your home, as well as outside. In the winter, when you’re more likely to have all your windows and doors closed, keep indoor air dry and circulating with fans, or occasionally crack a window to let some fresh air in. If you haven’t turned your heaters on yet, make sure they’re free of dust and move any belongings away from vents to minimize fire risk.
These tips should help ensure that you have a warm and uneventful winter in your rental! If you are interested in finding a rental property in Seattle, contact your local real estate agent today.

New Data Shows Half of Seattle Renters Live Solo

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rental Blog
According to the most recent census data reported by The Seattle Times, Seattle’s population of renters is living up to the city’s reputation for introverted residents. 51 percent of the city’s rent-paying tenants live alone, which is a surprising statistic considering that the average rent in Seattle is now $1,480, up 21 percent from five years ago. Only Atlanta has a larger percentage of solo renters, and most other cities toward the top of the list (Cincinnati, St. Louis and Pittsburgh) have average rents significantly lower than Seattle’s.

But despite the significant rental costs, it appears Seattleites are willing to pay more in order to not have to share their space. No sinks full of your roommate’s dishes (just your own), no fighting over the parking space, and no sharing any of that precious square footage. Single-occupancy units are clustered more heavily in certain areas of the city, including downtown, where three out of every four units is occupied by a single person, and other densely populated neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Eastlake, and Fremont.
Though the rate of solo renters is high comparable to other cities, the percentage has dropped from 56 percent in 2009, so it appears renters may be starting to feel the squeeze of rising rents. For more information about renting in Seattle, contact your local real estate agent today.

Washington Park Rental: $4,995

This beautiful 4 bed 3 bath Washington Park home is now available for rent on the highly sought after McGilvra Blvd E. This home has glorious views of the Cascades and Lake Washington, sitting high above the street, with a panoramic view, with a great neighborhood presence. Features include traditional detailing finish work, high ceilings, large rooms and natural light. The dining room and kitchen open out to the private terrace level lawn area, and the master bedroom is located upstairs with a view balcony.  The home is conveniently located near the Lake, parks, restaurants, and shops. If your interested in this  or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	4//3
Price:	$4,995

Tips to Receive Your Security Deposit Back

If you’ve rented before, you’re likely familiar with that awful feeling that even though you’ve hired a cleaner to clean the carpets, and mopped every inch of the rental, you’re not going to receive that security deposit back. You wait eagerly by the mailbox in hopes of receiving a check, and when it comes you’re shocked to find that you’ve only received $100 back – where did all of your money go? To prevent this from happening again, here are some tips from our friends over at Curbed Seattle, on how to receive as much of your deposit back as possible.
1) Read Your Entire Lease – Don’t just skim it, really dig deep for anything you should not be responsible for. Landlords cannot add anything in the lease claiming tenant responsibility to pay for any damages that are not your fault. If a non-refundable cleaning fee is to be paid, it must be stated in the lease.
2)Take photos when you move in – Be sure to capture any damages already in place before you move into your rental. Be sure you receive a checklist of all previous damages agreed upon by your landlord and you, and signed by both parties; also make sure your receive a copy of this document.
3) Give Your Landlord 14 Days to Deliver the Deposit – By WA Law, your landlord must deliver your deposit to you within 14 days after your move out date. If you do not receive the check within this time period, you have the right to sue for double the deposit amount. Be sure to give your landlord your current address, otherwise the fault may be deemed your own.

High Seattle Rent + High Competition = High Stakes for Renters

Have you been searching for a new Seattle rental and found that someone else is always one step ahead of you? You aren’t alone! Seattle renters in the throws of searching for a new place to call home have a lot of other renters competing for the same properties. Some renters have been attending open houses, even arriving early in hopes of getting to spe3ak with the landlord directly, only to find that there is a line of Seattleites ahead of them at the door, already discussing their game plan for landing that lease. What is a renter to do? One could spoke with Mynorthwest after a year long search for their rental home. “Oh, it’s awful. You’re like, I’m going to be smart and get to this house 20 minutes early and there’s already 20 people there and they’re all talking about their strategy,” said Ian Schuler. “Seattle is filled with beautiful Type-A personalities. Everybody knows what they want and they’re so competitive. And it takes, honestly, that that kind of personality, I think, to be on top of it.”
On average, a one bedroom in Seattle may have gone up 200-400 dollars this past year, and new construction apartments are coming on the market with a high price tag. To make themselves look desirable, many renters are putting together portfolios that include family resumes, pet resumes and neighbor recommendations, along with letters from previous landlords. Anything that might give them the edge needed to one up another prospective tenant. Stay on top of the rental search, and be prepared to have tough competition with the units you’d like to live in. If you’re looking for Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Washington Park Rental Home: $7,000

This beautiful Washington Park rental home has spectacular views of Lake Washington and Mt Rainer from nearly every room, and is now available rent. This home was completely remodeled in 2007, and is in impeccable condition. There are 4 bedrooms on the top floor, an expansive deck which is adjacent to an open kitchen and living room, and also has a wonderful backyard, and a media room! The downstairs has a separate guest suite, and the home also includes an office with a wall-wall bookcase, and a wine cellar. There is a two car garage attached for your convenience. If you are interested in this, or other Seattle rentals, please contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	5&4
Price:	$7,000/Month

Washington Park Rental Home: $6,000

This picture perfect 4 bed, 2 bath home in the heart of Washington Park is now available to rent! The home is updated throughout using the highest quality materials and construction. Features include spacious rooms, private outlook, beautiful oak floors, fine mill-work, remodeled kitchen and bathrooms, and a sunny private deck. This home is elegant and inviting, and could be yours to rent today. If you’re interested in this or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Baths:	4/2.25
Price:	$6,000

Do you Have Loud Neighbors? Tips for Dealing With the Noise

If you’re renting an apartment, the reality of dealing with possible altercations from neighbors is always a possibility, and the reality of having to deal with a noisy neighbor at some point is very likely. Here are some helpful tips to dealing with the noise:
Confront your neighbor directly- and nicely- that you can hear their late night noise through your walls, and that you would appreciate it if they could keep the noise at a comfortable level after hours. It’s likely that your neighbor might not even know that they are being loud, and by bringing it to their attention, might resolve the issue right then and there. If you feel comfortable bringing it to their attention, it’s a good idea to come up with a compromise, so that you both feel comfortable for the outcome. Give them a heads up of your schedule, and when you’d like quiet hours, and ask them what their schedule looks like too so it feels like a two way deal. If you don’t feel comfortable confronting your neighbor directly, contact your management- if the noise is too much for you to deal with, it is a responsible decision to leave it to them to resolve the issue; after all, your landlord is the only one authorized to fix the situation. You should also check your lease, as most apartments have quiet hours in the evenings, and if your neighbors are breaking those rules, you’ll have even the more claim to contacting management. For more information on Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.