The Best (and Worst) Renting Advice We’ve Received

Negotiation is best done by a well-trained agent, however, you should still have some knowledge on things such as comparable appraisal characteristics, number of days on the market, and competition of similar spaces.

Location is more important than square footage. For example, the apartment may have no closets but might be in the right neighbourhood.

If you're planning to stay in your rental for longer than a year, a bigger space may be more important than the location. If you're considering a smaller space, calculate your rent with your roommate based on room size to determine if the apartment is worth it.

Rentals are not hard to personalise.

Options to fix a temporary place are endless, such as removable wallpaper, swapping out light fixtures, using curtains, or disguising ugly floors with stick-on tiles.

Some renters are willing to upgrade the apartment with new floors or a new kitchen at their own expense. They need to notify the owner of the changes, but owners generally agree to improvements.