Can Your Landlord Require You to Invest in Renter’s Insurance?

The quick answer is yes; an influx of landlords are requiring their tenants to have a renter’s insurance policy set in place, during the time of their tenancy. This must be addressed before the signing of a lease, and outlined within your lease. In other words, your landlord may not require you to obtain a policy half way through your lease term, but when your lease is up and it’s time to renew, they can add that within the requirements that need to be met for an updated lease.

While some renters don’t feel the need for insurance, there are actually benefits for both renters and landlords, as a result of having a tenant with renter’s insurance. The first good thing renters should know is that having renter’s insurance is relatively inexpensive, (usually between $125-$175 a year) and provides decent coverage, should something happen to your home. What can insurance cover you ask? Things like damage done to your home from flooding, fires, and people stealing your belongings to name a few, and when these things happen, it’s nice to not have to eat all of the costs, and have insurance providers take some of the weight off your plate. It can also provide some liability coverage should someone get hurt in your home, a dog bite, etc. If you’re interested in obtaining a policy even if you’re not required, it can really be a small price to pay, in the case of extensive damage. Calling your insurance provider to receive a quote is a good first step.

Seattle University Gets Approval to Plan Expansion

Yesterday Seattle University received the approval from the City Council for a plan that would more than double the school’s square footage of campus space on Broadway & Madison St. Right now the University is spread across 2.04 million sf of the 4.8 acre campus. According to the Daily Journal of Commerce, the school’s master plan is designed to stimulate growth of the University over the next 10-20 years, and by 2028 the school hopes to add 2.1 million sf of classrooms, parking, housing, retail and other buildings.
The plan includes taller buildings, and expansion of the campus’ boundary lines, and campus officials have said that the plan is necessary in preparation for the projected growth of the university; an estimated 2,500 students by 2028. Will this affect the cost of rent in the area? Most likely, but officials will have plans for housing to accommodate the influx of students who want to live on campus as well. The city’s approval doesn’t necessary approve any specific projects, but does allow the University to continue planning.

Capitol Hill Craftsman Home Available

This lovely 4 bed 2 bath craftsman home in the Capitol Hill neighborhood is now available for rent! The home has a gourmet kitchen with an island breakfast bar for gathering around the kitchen. There is also a formal dining room, and large living room with hardwood flooring. The top floor hosts a master bedroom with a nice sitting area and two additional bedrooms, while the lower level has a family room and additional bedroom. Fore more information on this home or other Seattle Rentals visit Ewing & Clark.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	4/2.0
Price:	$3,900

Madison Park Rental Available

This 3 bed, 3 bath home in Madison Park will be available for rent in December, and if you’re looking for a short term lease you’re in luck, as they are looking to rent for 3-4 months. There are two bedrooms on the 2nd floor and an office on the 3rd floor with a view of the neighborhood. The master bedroom has a fireplace and 3/4 connecting bathroom, lots of windows allow plenty of natural light. The main floor hosts the roomy kitchen, dining room, living room, and an additional powder room. The homes also has a spacious  fenced backyard, with a large deck for entertaining. There are also 2 side patios along the South side of the home and a laundry room in the basement. This home comes with 2 car garage parking off of the alleyway, and is partially furnished. The home is in close proximity to Madison Park favorites like the Broadmoor Golf Club, Seattle Tennis Club, and Madison Park. For more information on this home or other Seattle Rentals visit Ewing & Clark Inc.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	3BR/3BTH
Price:	$4,300

Leschi Rental Available: $2,250

Remodeled Leschi cottage available for lease starting December 1st. The Leschi home has been updated with double-pane windows, new electrical, plumbing, and A/C to cool both up and downstairs.  Upstairs the property includes two bedrooms, a bathroom featuring a granite, tile & heated floors, and French doors opening to a deck with garden views. On the main floor, oak floors and crown molding in living and dining rooms.  The kitchen has heated tile floors, granite counters & added storage. French doors off the back of the house lead to a deck drenched in Wisteria. The daylight basement includes a third bedroom, another bathroom and laundry room. The outside includes a fenced back yard and parking for up to four cars.

The Leschi rental is located just above Leschi Park and just north of Frink Park.  Strolled down the old cable car trail through Leschi Park to Lake Washington and the Leschi business district or travel to Downtown Seattle within 15 minutes.

Address:	112 32nd Ave South
Status:	For Rent – Available December 1st
Bed/Bath:	3/1.75
List Price:	$2,250

Please contact Nate Pearson if you are interested in this Seattle rental.

Estimating Apartment Utility Costs

When you’re searching for a new rental, utility costs aren’t always the first thing that comes to mind when configuring your financing.  You’re aware you need to plan for them, but the costs aren’t always clear, so before you sign the lease, be sure to account for extra rental expenses. During the winter months, you can expect to pay between $30-50 a month for electricity, largely depending on how much you’re at home, how careful you are about turning off the lights, and how energy efficient your appliances are.

Photo Courtesy of Movingtoday.com

Photo courtesy of Movingtoday.com

If you live in a multi-unit building, there is a chance there will be no extra costs for heat, and the Landlord will have added the additional costs for heat into the cost of rent. If you’re renting a house, and have gas or forced air heating you could be paying at least $100 a month in the winter time, but the best way to determine the costs would be to ask the landlord or a previous tenant. If you don’t want to spend time trying to connect to your neighbor’s Internet for free, you’ll need to plan for $30-45 a month for Internet costs, which can be cheaper if you’re bundling with cable or a phone line. It’s also never a bad idea to look into getting renter’s insurance, especially if you’re a first time renter. You never know what can happen, and planning ahead to be safe is actually very affordable, sometimes around $150 a year. For a general rule of thumb if you leave out the cable, you can expect to pay roughly 20% of your rent in utilities if you live alone, and 10% if you’re living with a roommate.

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.