How to save money on rent

Explore the cost of renting in different areas

The cost of renting apartments of the same area strongly depends on the area in which they are located. In metropolitan areas where there is a subway, options within a 5-minute walk of the stations are more expensive than a few bus stops away. But even in small towns, housing in the center can be more expensive.

At the same time, living in residential areas can be more convenient. Often there is a fairly developed infrastructure, a lot of green areas, and residential areas are designed more successfully. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the outskirts and areas far from the metro. Especially if ground transport works without interruptions. Or do you work remotely and don't need to go to office through half the city.

If the house is located near an industrial area or a construction site is located nearby, the rental price can also be reduced by 10-20%.

It is worth remembering that prices in different areas change over time. Some parts of the city may become more expensive - for example, because the number of people wishing to rent an apartment there will suddenly increase. Others, on the contrary, will face a decrease in the number of potential tenants, and prices there will go down.

This happens, for example, when the area increases sharply built housing. Therefore, it is worth keeping an eye on current prices. You can do this on ad aggregator sites.

Watch out for seasonal price fluctuations

If you are preparing to rent an apartment in advance, pay attention to seasonal rent fluctuations in your city. They may also vary by region. But almost everywhere in January the real estate market is calm. And the cost of rental housing immediately after the holidays can be lower than a month later.

In many regions, prices go down in April-June. Pensioners at this time leave for summer cottages for several months and rent out their apartments or separate rooms in them. Therefore, there are more housing on the market, and prices are falling. But this rule may not work in southern and seaside cities.

There, in the warm season, the cost of rent increases, because there are many vacationers.

Usually in August-September, prices go up everywhere. At this time, many return from vacations, and various companies are actively looking for new employees. Well, as a rule, in the fall there are more people who want to change something in their lives - for example, rent a new apartment. Therefore, for those who want to save money, it is better to look for housing at another time.

Choose apartments from owners

When renting a property through an agency, you pay for the service intermediaries. If you rent an apartment from the owner, there will be no such overpayment. You can find housing on ad sites - there are a lot of rental offers.

It is worth carefully studying the different options and choosing the 2-3 most attractive ones. Then you can ask the owners various questions, personally see the apartment and only then draw up the documents.

During the search, pay attention to those apartments in the cards of which are presented real photos - often on sites there is such an icon. And one more thing: look for a mark that the owner's profile has been verified and all the necessary documents have been verified.

Look for housing in old or newly built houses

The cost of renting strongly depends on the condition of the house and the time of its construction. For example, some older buildings may not have hot water. This means that there is a boiler in an apartment in such a house, and electricity costs are higher. But the cost of rent is lower. In panel KhrushchevAs a rule, apartments are also cheaper than in modern houses.

But if the house was commissioned recently, no later than 2-3 years ago, the price may also be low.

Often, the infrastructure around new buildings is not well developed: shops, cafes, distribution points and other useful facilities will appear later. Yes, and the area around, too, at first may not be very comfortable. These inconveniences will disappear over time, and the cost of rent will rise.

In addition, it is worth remembering that apartments on the first and last floors are also often slightly cheaper than the rest.

Assess the repair, availability of furniture and appliances

If the apartment has not been repaired, its price can be much lower than the cost of the same, but with a brand new finish. But, renting a home without repair, it is worth weighing all the pros and cons. Perhaps there will be more than just cosmetic defects. It is possible that you will have to call an electrician or plumber to urgently fix something or eliminate the accident.

Of course, in such cases, you can agree with the owners and compensate for the cash costs by reducing the amount of the next payment. But time, nerves and strength you will not return.

Therefore, evaluate how critical the lack of repair is, and only then make a choice.

However, if you have a lot of free time, you can do the entire renovation yourself at the expense of rent. Sometimes the owners are ready to sign such an agreement. Of course, it fixes not only the cost of all materials, but also the execution fee. repair work.

If the house has little furniture and some important household appliances, you can also count on a lower rental price. If you are going to live in a rented apartment for a long time, it makes sense to buy the necessary furniture, appliances, and maybe dishes on your own. Firstly, this way you will definitely choose only what suits you. Secondly, the next time you move, you will immediately look for apartments without furnishings, and this is always cheaper.

Rent a house with friends or friends

The cost of renting a two-room apartment is not two, but about one and a half times higher than that of a one-room apartment. A three-room apartment can sometimes be rented for the same price or slightly more expensive than a two-room apartment. Therefore, two or three lonely friends It is quite possible to unite and save a lot on rent.

Of course, there is an option to rent a room alone. But then you will live in the same apartment with the owners or neighbors in a communal apartment - people you do not know. It may be less comfortable than settling in with buddies or girlfriends.

This option is often chosen by students who study at the same university or college.

Don't be afraid to bargain with the owners

It happens that bargaining is not only appropriate, but also beneficial to both parties. Here's what to do.

• Offer to conclude a contract for a long time. To the owner of the apartment, if he does not rent it daily, permanent residents are beneficial. He will not have to meet with tenants again and again, show housing, answer questions, wait for a decision. That is, losing time and money due to breaks in the lease. If you are willing to sign a long-term contract, pay a deposit in case of sudden departure, and also guarantee timely payment, you can talk about a discount.
• Agree on a one-time payment. Sometimes you can negotiate a small reduction in rent if you are willing to pay not for one, but for several months at once. For example, make an advance payment once a quarter. It happens that such conditions are beneficial for the owner, and he is ready to slightly reduce the monthly amount.
• Talk about low depreciation costs. If you rent an apartment alone or for a family without small children and petsYou can try to negotiate a small discount. After all, the depreciation of the apartment, the depreciation of furniture and equipment will be minimal. The washing machine will not work every day with a full load, and the cat will not scratch the wallpaper in the hallway. This means that the owner will not have to do cosmetic repairs immediately after your departure or buy new equipment. Maybe the landlord will take this into account.
• Look for other conditions that will be beneficial to the owners. It happens that on ad sites, the owners immediately write that they are ready to bargain. If this is your case, when viewing the apartment, you should consider what you can offer in exchange for a discount. Maybe you can update old wooden furniture. Or fix all the sockets and switches in the house. Or hang new curtain rods, sew curtains, buy a new carpet and put it on the bedroom floor. And leave it all after you leave.

Look for options that will benefit both. Perhaps you can negotiate a discount.