Helpful Tips to Get the Landlord to Pick You

As a new prospective renter, you’ve probably spent countless weekends searching for the perfect rental for yourself, and finally stumble on the right one for you; only problem is, 20 other potential tenants have applied and think it’s the perfect place for them too! Are there things you can do to help yourself standout amongst the other applications? Yes of course! Zillow has provided a few useful tips to set you ahead of the rest. First and foremost, you should really only be pursuing rental accommodations that you can afford. If you go into a showing knowing the maximum rent you can afford with your income, you’re in great shape. You’re landlord needs to know that you’re capable of paying your rent, and paying it on time, so being knowledgeable of this is important at the time of viewing.
Knowing your credit history is also important, as almost every landlord these days will be doing their homework, and checking your credit score prior to giving the OK to accept your application. Credit scores generally range from 300-850, and according to Zillow, a score of 550-580 should be sufficient for a first time renter with a decent income. You can actually go online and check your credit score for free through the Federal government once a year, and you’ll want to do so before searching for an apartment so you can keep that in mind. You should also dress presentable when meeting with a potential landlord to view an apartment (remember while it may feel like you’re interviewing them for finding the right home for you, their actually interviewing you to make sure you’re the perfect fit to work with their company, and the building’s tenants too!). Be on time, and dress business casual, or dressy casual will do the trick, as the first impression on how you appear, and present yourself during this initial meeting is crucial to setting yourself apart from the rest. For other tips, and things you can do to give yourself a head-start in the rental world, visit Zillow’s Blog.

Queen Anne Rental Home: $2,550

This 4 bed 2 bath home in the Queen Anne neighborhood is just one block away from the bustling Queen Anne Ave, seconds away from restaurants,  shops, grocery stores, and Seattle nightlife. This home has an expansive living room with a gorgeous wood burning fireplace, and ample natural light. The spacious dining room has a drop down chandelier and the kitchen opens up right into the private fenced backyard. The upper level has 3 large bedrooms, and one bathroom, and the master has a small view! The basement in this unit in completely finished and has a cozy family room, bedroom, bathroom and a utility room attached. For more information on this rental, visit Ewing & Clark Inc.

		Status: For Rent Bed/Bath: Four/Two Price: $2,550

Zillow Launches New Rental App for the iPhone

If you’re a renter in the greater Puget Sound, you’re probably familiar with how competitive the market is today, and looking for that edge to help stay one step ahead of the rest. Renters have the task of sorting through their options, and have to view several properties at once, sometimes multiple in one day and must remember which ones they liked, and what qualities they liked about them. To aid renters on their quest for the perfect rental, Zillow has launched a new rental app for the iPhone, just like their rental app that came out for the Android in April.

The new rental app has features that will allow renters to access rental listings, see whats around the property’s neighborhood, (schools, restaurants, parks, shopping, etc) and search by neighborhood. Renters will be able to use GPS and voice search options to search rentals in a specific area, and  use color coded options to see which listings are new to the market. Renters will also be able to view their favorite listings side by side, for a detailed comparison, and can contact landlords right there on the spot. If you have an iPhone and searching for rentals in the neighborhood, give this one a try!

Vacationing Late Summer? Review Home Security Tips to Keep Your Rental Safe While Away

Summer is prime time for vacationers to pack up and get in the car, and it’s smart to make sure your home is secured before leaving the humble abode for an extended weekend or longer. Zillow has compiled a precautionary checklist to review before leaving your home alone, and the first item on the list is to consider having a house sitter or consulting with your friends and neighbors to see if they’re able to check on the house while you’re gone, which could be simple if you’re having someone check on your pets, or water your plants.
It might be wise for a neighbor to park in front of your home while you’re away, creating the illusion that someone is home at all times. Shutting off a main valve might be a cautious step to take before you leave to avoid any pipes leaking, which can cause extensive damage, and become very costly. You could consider putting up motion sensor lights (check with your landlord to see if this is feasible) or electrical timers for inside lighting, again you could also have your neighbors stop by and do the same thing. For other tips on securing your home, visit Zillow.

Does Your Rental Have an Ugly View? Tips For Disguising It!

The great thing about Seattle neighborhoods is that there is almost always a view of something beautiful around the corner from your home; but that can also mean that your direct view isn’t the greatest. Many rentals, especially those homes with rental basements or mother in law apartment rentals can have a view of a warped neighbor’s yard, or better yet your  unattractive neighbor’s living room, who without fail loves to do yoga in tiny neon spandex around the time your hosting happy hour. Thankfully Zillow has come to the rescue with some great ideas to disguise your unappealing view, and turn it around to something worth staring at.
Window coverings, such as curtains or shutters, especially when they’re working together can block out the background, and dress up the window area. Custom shades can run a little higher, but might be worth it for full coverage views. Also if replacing the window itself isn’t an option, a fun way to blur views is with decorative window film that is applied right to the glass, especially around the holidays! If you have a knack for plants, you could install some shelving in front of the windows and disperse with light craving plants. You could also create the same affect with a large hanging plant, or a large drooping vine. For more information on other tips to disguise your unsightly view, visit Zillow’s Tips & Advise Blog.

Zillow Updates Mobile Rental App Features

If your search for rentals is getting time consuming, and keeping you out of the beautiful Seattle sunshine we look forward to all year round, take your search on the go with a real estate mobile app! In April, Zillow launched their mobile rentals app for the Android, adding to the most popular real estate apps across all platforms.

Zillow Rentals was created to address the needs of users by organizing listings in an easily accessible way, from the right neighborhood, to the number of bedrooms, and baths. Now Zillow has expanded that list of features to include a pet policy search filter, a keyword search, and expanded list of amenities (such as on-site laundry, parking,  cable-ready, walk score, and more!). Searching for the perfect rental can be time consuming, and it appears mobile apps like Zillow are helping potential renters simplify their search on the go. For more information on the Zillow app updates, click here.

How is Your Cost of Rent Determined?

There are several factors that come into play when owners, landlords, and housing boards decide how much to rent a particular space for. In Seattle it can be assumed that since inventory is low, the cost of rent is rising and will continue to do so for the next few years. The Seattle Transit Blog has an interesting take on how your rental price is determined, and why that price was decided maybe even before your apartment was built!
According to Seattle Transit, construction costs, and debt accumulated are taken into consideration, as well as what the market will hold when determining the set rent. They suggest that the cost of rent is decided before the unit is finished being built. There is a supply and demand factor in the housing price decision. If inventory is low, rent is high, but if there is a surge in construction maybe the quality of housing will decrease and renters will wind up eating extra costs. Seattle Transit suggests that if all goes well in the construction process, and attracts prospective tenants, we should be seeing an increase in supply and lower costs in housing production. Read the full story to gain a better understand of all the bells and whistles that come into play when deciding that final rental rate. Understanding that there are many factors at hand and wrapping your head around what those factors are should open the flood gates for new ideas to cut costs for renters and builders alike.