Illustration for article titled Always Negotiate These Things Before Signing a LeasePhoto: JohnKwan (Shutterstock)

During the pandemic, people were Leaving large city apartments for rural residents in places where quarantine is a little easier. The exodus caused some landlords to fill vacancies. If you are in the Market for a new apartment– or even get ready to renew your existing lease – now is the time to play for a lower monthly payment, not to mention the added perks and conveniences that will make your daily life that much more enjoyable. Here are six things to negotiate every time you sign a new lease.

The monthly rent

Many people think their monthly rent is an immovable price, but your landlord sets it which means they can change it. Trying to negotiate a lower rent can be nerve-wracking. The risk of losing your home immediately is a great fear. However, in the current climate, you may have more traction than you think. As a housing attorney Samuel J. Himmelstein told the real estate site Brick Underground “[t]The vacancy rate will rise and landlords will be more interested in keeping their tenants in order to maintain their cash flow. “

Take a look at the vacancies in your building and find them comparable prices for similar apartments in your neighborhood. That way, you can determine how much you should be paying and weigh that against the amount you want to pay.

If the landlord is sticking to the monthly rate, try negotiating a free monthly rent.

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Rental period

If you know you will stay and worry about rent increases at the end of a lease, ask for a longer term, which will lower your overall rental costs over the long term.

The average rental period is twelve months (one year) which is a fair rental period; After a year you will usually know whether you want to stay in the apartment or move on. If you’re extending a lease, or if you feel like you really love the new digs, you can apply for a longer lease – two years or even 18 months are common questions, whichever you think best suits your needs. Most landlords will welcome the idea of ​​having a permanent tenant for a longer period of time in order to secure this monthly income and to reduce their turnover rate. Be sure to check the Broken lease fees Built into the contract because if something goes wrong during your rental period and you have to leave early, you want to be sure that you can get off at a fair price. (By the way, you can also negotiate the fraction fees in the negotiation process.)

Cosmetic changes

It is important to have a home with all of the joys that you enjoy. Before signing your lease, you should negotiate the ability to do so Small changes. Refinishing cabinets or changing doorknobs are little things that can really change the look of the room. Since you live at home and not with the landlord, you want the option to make it yours, even if it’s temporary.

Professional cleaning

It is your responsibility to clean your home. You won’t ask your landlord to wash your dishes, but you can ask Deep cleansing be included in your rental agreement. A professional cleaning company can wash things like clean baseboards, shampoo carpets, clean and dusty ceilings, and windows. With this type of service included in your monthly rental, spring cleaning becomes a breeze.

Park

If you have the opportunity to reserve your own parking space, I recommend that you grab one right away as part of your rental agreement. This will be more expensive in larger cities like NYC, where a dedicated spot runs on average $ 430 a monthbut it is definitely worth it if you can incorporate this question into your rental negotiation. If you have a car, you understand the problems and difficulties of parking on the street. A guaranteed spot saves you the extra costs associated with parking tickets and saves you the hassle of looking for a spot late at night or getting your car out for street cleaning.

Ask about the option of moving into a better unit

The outgrowth of space is pretty common when it comes to apartments. Perhaps you are expanding your family and need more bedrooms or a better layout. Or you just accumulated more stuff. When signing your lease, negotiate the option of moving to a larger or better unit in the building as soon as one becomes available. You will receive an initial notification when new apartments come on the market and can be expanded if necessary. Also ask a referral bonus. If you send other tenants on their way, request a cash bonus or money from the monthly rent. It is the least they can do to fill their empty units.