Atlanta Apartments

Some Atlanta apartment dwellers are unaware that the lease for their Atlanta apartment can be negotiated. If you are a first-time renter, you may think that the landlord has all the power and you have no basis from which to bargain. Certainly, there are situations where this may seem to be the case, especially in a locality where the demand for living space is high and the supply low, but even then, if you do your homework, you are likely to be able to improve the conditions of your lease.

The best time to begin a negotiation is after you have been approved as a renter, and before you sign the lease. If your landlord already knows you have a strong credit history, or you have provided him with good references from your building owner in another city, he will be aware that you are likely to be a good tenant. A reliable renter is very valuable to a landlord, and he may give more consideration to your requests.

Know the Market

As a renter, try to gather information about the number of Atlanta apartments available in your area. You will be in a stronger negotiating position if you are armed with facts when you go to sign the lease. Scan the rental listings online or in the paper, to get a feel for the going rates for the kind of units you are interested in. It may be well worth your time to call several buildings comparable to the one you are interested in and ask their prices. Have an idea of what you want to accomplish before you go to the signing. You could request a lower deposit, a reduction in monthly payments, free utilities or cable payments, or an extension on the number of months you are signing for. Pick your battles and decide which things are make-or-break for you.

It is also smart to ask for a copy of the lease to read prior to the actual signing. If this isn’t possible, by all means take the time to read it thoroughly while the landlord waits. Ask plenty of questions about the rules. Doing so will ease your mind, and also give the manager the idea that you intend to live up to your end of the deal.

Be Prepared

Be sure to do a complete walk-through of your new place before you sign the lease. If you noticed any kind of damage to your unit, ask for a date in writing on the lease when it will be repaired. If you decide you are willing to live with some chipped paint or sticky doors for a slight reduction in your rent, let the landlord know. He may be glad to lower your fee by $20 to avoid the trouble of hiring plumbers or carpenters.

Be sure to remain calm and polite, even if your landlord gets defensive. Assure him that you trust him, but you are just the kind of person who likes to be cautious. Never give ultimatums such as…”I won’t sign the lease unless you do X,” without being prepared to follow through on them. An empty threat makes you look manipulative and weak.

If you are renewing a lease after establishing a good reputation as a reliable renter, you are in the strongest position of all. Your manager has every reason to want to keep you rather than go through the hassle of cleaning your place and advertising for new occupants. This is the perfect time to see if he will eliminate your charges for garbage or snow removal services. Or maybe you can get a better parking spot or free use of the building’s recreation room.