Shelter.  One of man’s three most important necessities.  Provides comfort, protection and, well, let’s be honest, status.  Since the beginning of civilisation, property, like nationality, race, gender and religion has been hailed as a measure of a person’s substance; the mark of who they were.  In 17^th century England, for instance, you could stand stand up in a local town meeting and say – in a provocatively snobby accent, and a straight face – ‘I am a respected citizen!’  Everyone would have known by implication that you had property - and paid taxes.

You could probably do that today too.  Although you’d have to say it more like ‘I pay taxes’, and following a pregnant pause, let everyone conclude that you own property...or something.  It might take people a little longer to arrive at the same conclusion they effortlessly would have a few centuries ago (and of course the snobby accent and the straight face might be a little harder to pull off) but you could probably get some kind of reaction out of someone out there.  Still you’d have to do a little more explaining – leaving your audience to wonder why you didn’t just say ‘I own a property’.

The other thing is that it wouldn’t be as big of a deal either.  Thanks in part to a far more liberal and advanced society along with a necessary shift in values (not to mention a world-wide economic crisis and a real tight credit crunch) TIMES HAVE DRASTICALLY CHANGED from when a human being’s worth was almost entirely and unjustly determined by what property they owned.  In fact, soaring house prices have led to an unprecedented demand for rental property instead.  Let’s face it: whilst owning property will always have its advantages, given the current state of the housing market globally and in most parts of the country, it makes more financial sense for you to rent, rather than buy a house, right now.

·             What’s best for you:

Studio flats, student houses, furnished apartments, luxury flats or townhouses: the first step is to decide what type of property you would be interested in renting.  If you’re looking for a flat to rent Find a Flat  is the best place to check out.  You’ll also find great offers at other fantastic sites, such as Prime Location, Foxtons or Property Finder, which deal with a wider range of property.

It is crucial that you think about what’s most important to you.  For example, as a student, you may start looking for a room to rent or a relatively cheap property with the knowledge that cheap homes represent better-value-for money.  Easy Room Mate is an excellent site to check out if you’re looking to rent a flat at better value; and don’t forget Gumtree! 

Alternatively you could be interested in new homes or upmarket property.  Your price range will be a determining factor here.  On this note be aware that many houses and condos are staying on the market for longer periods of time, not only making it difficult for owners to sell property but creating an eagerness to rent out homes.  In a nutshell: those ‘properties for sale’ signs are being replaced by ‘property to let’ here and ‘flats to let’ there.  This jump in inventory of available rental homes puts you in a good position to haggle for better rent prices.  Use this knowledge to your advantage.

·            Research is key:

From the youngsters bawling thumping music next door or the couple across the street getting it on (or having a bit of a domestic) to the dog-that-never-stops-barking and those wailing car alarms that magically go off in the middle of the night, noisy neighbours, and their noisy neighbourhoods, can make your stay unbearable, so once you’ve determined that the option(s) you’re interested in is/are in your price range you will need to be thorough in your investigation of the area.  This is potentially the place you’re going to live in for a good while – at least until your tenancy’s up – so don’t be shy to ask questions.  Now you’re not looking for gossip (how often your neighbours go to church or how often they water their yard ...or any of that business) but you need to get the facts. 

You want to know things like whether they have kids and/or pets.  Are they college students or elderly couples?  Where’s the nearest grocery store, park, bus stop and cash point?  Ask about transportation routes and safety. 

If you’re looking at renting the place with others, choose your tenants carefully.  Money tends to be the most common cause of dispute so make sure you enter in written agreement on how bills will be paid based on your budget.

For more tips and articles on renting check out Find a Property.

·             Viewing the property:

Another significantly crucial step; do not rush it.  There are a large number of things to consider.  For example: which direction do the windows face?  Light and temperature can dramatically affect how much you enjoy your home and how the place is heated and cooled will be a particular concern if you are responsible for paying utilities. 

How big are the rooms and how much closet space is there?  Make note of stairwells, hallways and doors.  Will your couch fit in the living room or through the door?

Check the wiring and count how many outlets there are and if they have grounding socket (few outlets and/or two-pronged outlets often indicate older wiring – and this can be a safety concern).

Look in corners and behind furniture for evidence of repellents or any mouse traps as you check for insects and/or rodents.  You should even, ideally, visit the place at night (turn the kitchen and bathroom lights on and check for suspicious crawling activity).

The list of things to check for can be enormous or simple, depending on what’s most important for you).   The best thing to do when viewing a property you like is to bring along a checklist of things to watch out for...although you might also want to check out Find a Property for thorough ‘how-to’ guides and tips when it comes to that sort of thing. 

·             Before you sign:

Before signing on any dotted lines do a full inventory of the place.  Make note of the things there are, what you like, and what you would prefer to have changed.  This is more than deciding whether you prefer custard or cheesecake as a colour for the wall...pay attention to things like the condition in which the furniture is in, and whether the carpets and curtains have been steam-cleaned.  Remember that, in most cases, once the lease is signed the landlord or letting agent is under no obligation to change anything.  If the place is in need of repair or paint, find out what will be done before you move in.

Property renting, for most folks, may not represent the serious life-defining investment in bricks and mortar that house buying does, but if where you live still says anything about who you are (and it does) you want to make sure that you find a gem.  Keep your wits about you and fix the nitty gritty petty things that could drive you crazy ahead of time and you probably won’t have to live with them for the next odd months.

Good luck!

Some AWSOME sites to check out:

Property Finder,

Find a Flat,

Prime Location,

Gumtree, 

Easy Room Mate,

Find a Property,

Foxtons