Carlisle Rental Realtor Dave
  • Residential Rentals
    • Downtown Carlisle 1bd apartment for rent including most utilities
    • Mayapple Village 5bd 3.5ba rental w heated pool & 3-car garage
    • 48 Parker St - 2bd 1ba Second Floor apartment in quiet neighborhood
    • 49 S Bedford St, Apt 1 - downtown Carlisle 1bd 1ba near law school
    • 117 W Pomfret St - 3bd 1.5ba historic home with fenced yard
    • 133 W Louther St - Historic downtown Carlisle 4bd 2ba house for rent.
    • 136 W Church Ave - 1bd 1ba for rent in downtown Carlisle near Dickinson Law School
    • 148 W Pomfret St - 4bd 2.5ba downtown Carlisle house for rent - Furnished!
    • 170 E North St - 2 bedroom downtown Carlisle house for rent with laundry and fenced yard
    • 424 Croghan Dr - Pet friendly Carlisle rental with garage and fenced yard
    • 805 Hamilton St, Apt 1 - Furnished studio near army war college
    • Nothing Suitable? Check out these FREE Search Tips
  • Property Management
    • Property Management Services
    • Pricing for Carlisle Management
    • Over 15 Years of Experience
    • Property Management FAQ
    • Tips to find the right Property Manager >
      • 7 Tips to Find the Best Property Manager
      • Property Manager vs Self Manage
      • Landlord's Guide to Hiring a Property Manager
      • 20 Qs to ask a Property Manager
      • Self Manage vs Hiring a Manager
    • Landlord Resources
  • Testimonials
  • More
    • Join the Mailing List
    • Tenant Resources >
      • Tenant Portal >
        • Tenant Maintenance Request
        • Tenant Survey
        • Tenant Exit Survey
      • Renting 101: Free Tips for Tenants! >
        • Renting 101- Tips for First Time Renters
        • Renting 101- Tips for Military Renters
        • Renting 101- General Rental Search Tips
        • Renting 101- Carlisle Rental Search Tips
        • Renting 101- Attending Showings
        • Renting 101- Secrets to Finding your Ideal Rental
        • Renting 101- Spring Tips for Tenants
        • Renting 101- Winter Tips for Tenants
        • More Tenant Tips >
          • Organizing Your Home
      • Military Renter & PCS Tips
      • Crime Data
      • School District Info
    • Landlord Resources >
      • Top 10 Resources for Owners of Rental Properties
      • Dave's Client Resources
      • Should I Rent or Sell My Home?
    • Commercial For Lease >
      • Business Space for Lease
      • Office space for lease
      • Retail space for lease in Downtown Carlisle, PA
    • Applicant Criteria
    • Application to Rent
    • Referral Program
    • Homeowner 101
    • Buy
    • Sell
    • Rental Management
    • Real Estate Brokerage Website
    • Contact Dave

Renting 101

Showing Advice and 6 Tips for Viewing Potential Rentals

By Dave Fleming, published February 4, 2021. Updated March 2, 2022.
1. Check Water Pressure and Temperature
If you're picky about your showers like me, you'll want to make sure the water pressure is decent and the hot water is to your satisfaction.

2. Check Cell Service
I rely on my cell phone for very important work calls at home, so it would be miserable if I leased a place only to find out my cell doesn't work well there. 

3. Explore the Neighborhood
You can get a great idea of how you'll like a home by taking some time to explore the area. Are things that are important to you nearby such as parks or a pool? Does it seem like the kind of area you'd like to live in with the businesses you'd like to patronize? How about a test drive between the rental and your work?

4. Have a List of Questions and Ask Them!
It's always important to enter showings prepared. Bringing a list of questions is an excellent way to make sure you find out everything you need to know. Before you even go to a showing though, you can ask some qualifying questions that might save you and the landlord time such as "Are pets allowed" or "Is there an occupancy limit?". Some other questions you might ask during a showing:
  • What are the utilities and who's responsible for each? For example, is water heating gas or electric?
  • Are there any additional fees such as parking or HOA fees?
  • Who takes care of the exterior and common areas of the property?
  • ​Who will you be dealing with on a day-to-day basis for things like maintenance requests and rental payments? Some owners will deal directly with you while others may have agents operating on their behalf.
  • Ask about any areas you were not able to see. For example, do I have access to the attic or crawl space or shed or utility room?
  • What's the lockout procedure?
  • How long is the lease term? Negotiable? Renewal option?
  • Are there any specific rules or regulations I should know about?

5. Don't be Afraid to Negotiate
Does the rental need a coat of paint or some deferred maintenance? See if the landlord is willing to put a fresh coat of paint on for you or offer a discount on rent.

6. Don't Make Any Payments
If you feel the need to pay any money at a showing, make sure you get a receipt and see credentials before doing so.

I hope this provided some useful information for attending rental property showings. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions for my Renting 101 pages. Thanks for reading!

Next Article: Renting 101 Rental Search Tips 

Check out all my FREE Tenant Resources Here

I am always expanding this collection with rental resources I think will be useful to renters.
If you know of a resource that might be useful, please submit it for consideration. Thanks!
Error: Embedded data could not be displayed.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Residential Rentals
    • Downtown Carlisle 1bd apartment for rent including most utilities
    • Mayapple Village 5bd 3.5ba rental w heated pool & 3-car garage
    • 48 Parker St - 2bd 1ba Second Floor apartment in quiet neighborhood
    • 49 S Bedford St, Apt 1 - downtown Carlisle 1bd 1ba near law school
    • 117 W Pomfret St - 3bd 1.5ba historic home with fenced yard
    • 133 W Louther St - Historic downtown Carlisle 4bd 2ba house for rent.
    • 136 W Church Ave - 1bd 1ba for rent in downtown Carlisle near Dickinson Law School
    • 148 W Pomfret St - 4bd 2.5ba downtown Carlisle house for rent - Furnished!
    • 170 E North St - 2 bedroom downtown Carlisle house for rent with laundry and fenced yard
    • 424 Croghan Dr - Pet friendly Carlisle rental with garage and fenced yard
    • 805 Hamilton St, Apt 1 - Furnished studio near army war college
    • Nothing Suitable? Check out these FREE Search Tips
  • Property Management
    • Property Management Services
    • Pricing for Carlisle Management
    • Over 15 Years of Experience
    • Property Management FAQ
    • Tips to find the right Property Manager >
      • 7 Tips to Find the Best Property Manager
      • Property Manager vs Self Manage
      • Landlord's Guide to Hiring a Property Manager
      • 20 Qs to ask a Property Manager
      • Self Manage vs Hiring a Manager
    • Landlord Resources
  • Testimonials
  • More
    • Join the Mailing List
    • Tenant Resources >
      • Tenant Portal >
        • Tenant Maintenance Request
        • Tenant Survey
        • Tenant Exit Survey
      • Renting 101: Free Tips for Tenants! >
        • Renting 101- Tips for First Time Renters
        • Renting 101- Tips for Military Renters
        • Renting 101- General Rental Search Tips
        • Renting 101- Carlisle Rental Search Tips
        • Renting 101- Attending Showings
        • Renting 101- Secrets to Finding your Ideal Rental
        • Renting 101- Spring Tips for Tenants
        • Renting 101- Winter Tips for Tenants
        • More Tenant Tips >
          • Organizing Your Home
      • Military Renter & PCS Tips
      • Crime Data
      • School District Info
    • Landlord Resources >
      • Top 10 Resources for Owners of Rental Properties
      • Dave's Client Resources
      • Should I Rent or Sell My Home?
    • Commercial For Lease >
      • Business Space for Lease
      • Office space for lease
      • Retail space for lease in Downtown Carlisle, PA
    • Applicant Criteria
    • Application to Rent
    • Referral Program
    • Homeowner 101
    • Buy
    • Sell
    • Rental Management
    • Real Estate Brokerage Website
    • Contact Dave