Barcelona has a warm Mediterranean climate, sparkling beaches, and a vibrant local culture. And if you are a big football fan, it is also famous for its outstanding football team!
With so much to offer, it’s no wonder that this city attracts plenty of short-term and long-term visitors from around the world. Now that you are one of those visitors looking for a new apartment rental in Barcelona, you need to make sure that your house-hunting process is as airtight as possible. Here are seven tips you can use to protect yourself when renting an apartment.
Transact Only With Reliable Agencies
It’s always best to start planning ahead. If you are based outside of Barcelona, then your first move would probably be to look online for agencies who can support you in your stay. This increases the risk of running into dodgy agencies or landlords who will take advantage of you. There have been extreme cases where people reserve apartments, only to find out that it does not even exist in the first place.
So if you need to invest any time and money into an agency before you make your move, make sure that you conduct plenty of background research. Make a shortlist of agencies that caught your eye and look for customer reviews, a social media presence, and contact details that you can use to ascertain their credibility.
Make Sure Your Agency Offers Long-Term Support
Usually, real estate agencies are known for acting as the middleman between the tenant and the landlord. However, they may choose to stop providing their services after they are paid the agency commission fee. This means that if you have any problems with your property, they do not want to take further responsibility. As a result, you are left to deal with the landlord directly.
This can be frustrating because you are in a new place and you may be unfamiliar with the local language and culture. In addition, you may not feel like you are getting your money’s worth, especially if you paid a sizeable agency fee.
Preempt this issue by clarifying your chosen agency’s commitment to your stay. If they insist on only covering the hassle of finding a place to rent, then you may want to consider looking for other agencies.
Consider Investing in Surveillance
It can be difficult to feel at home in a new place, especially if this is your first time moving far from home. To assuage your fears, a camera alarm system can help you keep an eye on your property and belongings while you are out. Even if you live in a safe neighborhood and trust your neighbors, the reality is that you never know what can go wrong – so it is best to prepare yourself as much as possible in case the worst happens.
Visit the Property
There is nothing that can replace the value of personally checking out the rental and making sure that it is in top condition. Check the windows and doors to see that they can open and shut securely, look for signs of mold or a pest infestation, and hang around for a bit to see if you can get a feel for the neighbors.
Check the Rental’s Surroundings
What good is the perfect rental if it is too far from your place of work, or situated in a seedy neighborhood? You can look up the area online to see whether it is located in a place with high crime rates, which can be a big dealbreaker for people who will be living alone. Aside from these factors, ongoing construction projects and unpleasant neighbors are also other considerations that could affect your willingness to push through with renting that apartment.
Ask the Right Questions
When you finally get to view the property personally, you need to make sure that you can ask the right questions to the landlord. Make sure you can cover any communal charges, deposit terms, the possibility of planned construction works in the area, your neighbors, and the process for any repair and maintenance work needed for your rental.
Read Your Rental Contract
The rental agreement is drafted to outline your responsibilities as a tenant and the landlord’s obligations to you as the property owner. It should be written in a way to protect both parties in equal measure.
Since there are differences from one tenancy agreement to another, all you need to do is make sure that the important details have been covered. This includes the length of your stay, your personal details, the rental price and time of payment, and the deposit amount as well as the guidelines surrounding its protection.
There may be room for a little negotiation on your contract, so if you need to ask for special accommodations like an allowance for a pet or having guests over late at night, make sure to bring those details up as well.
