Making Better Real Estate Decisions

What do you do if you have accepted a job offer in a new town and you can't find a house? If you want a house to rent in a hurry, you can't afford to hunt for it as you would do if you had all the time in the world. You need to be proactive and creative to land a house fast. Here are a few tips that will hasten the process:

Don't Restrict Yourself to Listings

Real estate listings are great for finding properties to rent, but they don't paint the whole picture. You can't afford to look at a partial market if you are in the market for a place to rent fast. Expand your search by using word of mouth, which means you should let your colleagues, family members, and even church members know that you are looking for a house. Even your Facebook friends may help you find a place.

Flaunt Your Good Credit

Two people are interested in one property; one has a stellar credit rating while the other's rating is so-so. If you think the landlord will be more interested in the guy with stellar credit, you guessed it right. A good credit signals to the landlord that you aren't likely to default on your rent payments. Therefore, if you have good credit, make it a point to let all your potential landlords know about it.

Get Your Documents Ready

Landlords use different documents such as a letter of employment, pay stubs, tax returns, and reference letters to confirm that you can afford the rent and don't have a bad reputation with previous tenants. Don't wait for a landlord to ask for these documents before hunting for them. If you think a landlord can ask for it, get it ready so that you can present it and avoid delays whenever a landlord asks for it.

Consider Houses Listed For Sale

You may also have some luck by considering the houses listed for sale. Approach the sellers and ask if they are willing to rent their properties. Some sellers will rent their properties that have been on the market for a long time or if the offers they are receiving are below the market price. If you do decide to rent such property, talk to the landlord and have some protective measures included in the lease agreement. For example, you should specify the minimum lease period so that you don't find yourself hunting for another house when the current one is sold after a couple of months.

For more information and help, work with professional realtors in your area.