For international students, there are many things to pay attention to house rent in USA. In order to avoid the accidentally stepped on the mine, loss of time and money. So in advance to understand how to rent a house in the United States, the process of renting an apartment and precautions, to avoid a few “big pit”. So that you can avoid the detours, quickly find a satisfactory residence, and start a good life.
The basic process of house for rent usa is outlined below:
1. Types of houses for rent in USA
2. How to find a house for rent
3. Know about the house condition
4. Types of rooms in USA
5. Tips for signing a contract
6. Checking the house rent
7. Other Related of House Rent in USA
House Rent Types in USA
Generally, house rent come from two different sources, one being private properties and the other being public rental properties.
Private Properties for House Rent
Private housing includes as homestay or house sharing. Homestay is a very familiar option for students who have been in the U.S. since high school. By staying with local Americans, they are able to integrate into a different society and understand the culture more quickly. Many students who are taking language classes, they are also very suitable for choosing Homestay. The reason is helpful for the language progress. The students who looks for a cheap house rent, there are many homestay charges relatively low. Even many families in order to experience a different cultural collision and free to receive international students to stay. In addition, homestay not only can have ready-made furniture available for use. And if you are lucky to encounter a good family, they can even help you deal with a lot of problems encountered when you first go to the United States.
The second category is renting a room in a private home. This option is usually chosen after you have been in the United States for a while. Some Americans will rent out an extra bedroom to students going to university in the neighborhood. This type of rental is a lease for both you and the landlord, so it’s relatively free. But, you may face relatively high rent and need to take care of three meals a day on your own.
If you have enough friends, you can team up with your best friends to share a house. The advantage is the free and easy living environment. However, the disadvantage is that you need to understand a series of payment process. For example, the garbage, electricity, water, gas and other miscellaneous costs. Because many landlords are handed over to the tenant to deal with.
Townhouse or Condo for Rent in USA
Public rental housing is relatively more formal, the terms and conditions of the fees are clear. You can find house for rent and share with your own friends. For those who don’t like to live with other people, you can rent a one-bedroom apartment. What you’re going to face is an empty room after you’ve just moved in. The general public rental properties are not provided with furniture inside. It only has the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and a few other big pieces. Relatively high-quality properties will have individual washers and dryers. While most relatively low-priced apartments will even require the use of a communal laundry room.
There are many other advantages of public housing. The fact that when you apply for a new apartment, it is cleaned and repaired by the apartment property. In addition, nice apartment complexes provide a swimming pool, gym or study room for free use by tenants. The advantage of having a property is that you can call for repairs in case of broken appliances, clogged pipes, and so on.
While there are many disadvantages behind such advantages. For example, if you don’t have furniture to use, you can only buy it when you move in. In addition the rental period of the apartment is also relatively fixed, and is usually one year. There are also six-month rental period, compared to the private rental, the degree of flexibility is greatly reduced. Finally, public rental properties are generally more expensive than private properties.
How to Rent a House in USA
Private Housing Sources
The first thing to say about how to find Homestay. It is possible to get information by consulting with the international student office within the school. Many U.S. families do this by having a good relationship with the neighborhood school, and even have some sort of contractual partnership. Many schools will even offer to help you contact Homestay, this situation is also relatively reliable and safe way.
Let’s talk about how to find other private housing. The first and most convenient way to find some rental information is to go online. Which is still very convenient in this day and age. You can use uhomes as the best way to find houses for rent and its relevant information.
Public Rental Housing
Public rental properties are much easier to find. You can use the websites and forums mentioned above to see what’s available near your school. You can even use Google Maps and type in Apartment to see what the closest public rental properties are to your school.
Once you have found these listings, try to Google their website to find out what information is available. Generally, most apartments will list all the prices of their neighborhoods on their website. Search for the right size, price, etc., and then try to email or call to see if there are any current listings for rent.
Know about the Conditions of House Rent in USA
Private Housing
- If you are able to match your requirements in terms of price, location, etc., then you can make an appointment to see the apartment. The most important things to look for are whether the apartment is fully furnished. And how far it is from the school, and whether you are satisfied with the room type. Then look at whether the basic electrical appliances are functioning properly. Whether there is a washer-dryer. Or it faces the street, and whether it is noisy, etc. All of these issues should be carefully examined.
- Discuss seriously with the landlord about the rent and deposit. And it depends on your eloquence whether you can rent a house at a higher cost-effective price. In addition, you need to know how to calculate and collect utilities, gas, garbage, and other fees. And how to handle the deposit after you quit.
- It is very important to check the landlord’s situation. When looking for a private property to rent, it is best to ask the landlord to provide the title of the house and his personal ID. The aim is to confirm that it is the landlord himself and not some second landlord to sublet. Even if the second landlord wants to sublet the house, he needs to get the landlord’s authorization letter and other evidence.
Public Housing
After looking at the location, price and floor information, you can go to the neighborhood for a tour. Generally speaking, public rental housing in the district have model rooms to visit. The model rooms are often carefully arranged furnishings. Remember to feel the general feeling of space can be. Also check whether the basic electrical appliances are old. And whether there is an independent washer and dryer. If the equipment is too old, you can inquire in advance whether it can be replaced when you move in.
Room Types in House Rent USA
Studio
This type of house is usually semi-open-plan, with the living area and kitchen under one space. Somewhat like the concept of a loft. It is a good place to live alone or as a couple. One of the major problems is that it smells a lot when you cook.
1B1B
The 1B1B here refers to 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom, which is commonly found in condominium complexes, where there is a separate bedroom and living room, dining room and kitchen space, which is more private and can isolate part of the cooking fumes. It’s perfect for those who like to live alone or for couples!
2B2B/3B2B
The numbers here represent the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. 2B2B/3B2B is generally the more common type of house, suitable for 2-4 people. Each bedroom has its own bathroom so that you don’t disturb each other, and the whole house also has other spaces such as living room, kitchen, dining room, etc. Overall, it is one of the most suitable types of houses for sharing with friends.
Tips of Sign Contract for House Rent in USA
The first thing is the details of rent, deposit and other fees. The private properties are entirely up to the landlord, and apartments will have different requirements. The aim is to figure out how much the rent is per month. And how many months’ deposit is required.
The second is about the renewal of the lease or the return of rent. You have to inquire clearly about the shortest period of the general rental period. Whether it is consistent with your basic situation in the future. If you choose to move out, how is the deposit deduct and how is it will return to you. If you choose to end the lease contract early, to know the what compensation is required.
After knowing these two points, you can sign the contract with the landlord or the staff of the apartment. The signing of a contract for a private room depends on the landlord’s wishes. And there are many things that can modify or adjust. And make sure that you are clear about how to deal with any damages, thefts, or disasters that may occur in the course of the use of the room.
What do you need when renting a house?
After confirming the housing, you need to prepare your passport visa, I-20, bank deposit certificate and other basic documents.
When you have your house rent in USA, you need to fill out an application form. And you also need to pay the application fee, which generally ranges from $20-$100 depending on the neighborhood. It is worth noting that the district office will generally only receive a check. You need to write a personal check or in your bank for the bank check to pay to the them.If you don’t have a personal check or if the bank is far away, you can buy Money Order. It is a kind of checking service provided by a financial company, but it often charges 1-2 US dollars as a handling fee.
When signing the contract, please confirm the key points mentioned at the top of this section. Also, confirm whether you will work with the neighborhood staff to check whether all the electrical appliances and decorations in your home are intact before moving in. And you need to sign a confirmation contract. If there is any damage that needs to be repaired when you move in, the cost of the repairs will be deducted from your security deposit. That’s why it’s important to carefully check that all appliances are in good condition when you move in.
Lastly, many apartments will require Rental Insurance before you move in. Or will purchase it for you when you are told about it. You can choose to purchase the insurance on your own from a major insurance company’s website. Also, you can choose to have the insurance provided by the community. This type of insurance usually covers natural disasters, theft, and other common problems.
Check Your House Rent in USA
Be sure to carefully check the condition of the home with the landlord after you sign the contract. The landlord or the community will be responsible for any problems that arise during the inspection. The apartment will usually have a specialized staff to accompany you along with the inspection. They will provide a checklist, according to each room area, the various electrical appliances involved in the precise description, etc.. You need to do is to work with the staff on a series of things. If there is a problem, then notify the property to repair.
If it is a private property, the basic furniture is in the home. All you need to do is to buy some bedding, change some new sheets and bathroom supplies. The apartment, many move-in new homes don’t have any furniture and you’ll need to buy it separately. The best thing to do is to buy new. If there is an IKEA in your city, you can go to IKEA and do a complete shopping trip. If you don’t have IKEA, you can buy furniture from IKEA online or from local furniture stores.
Other Related of House Rent in USA
House Sharing and Pets
- Rent-sharing. If you are new to the United States, it is very difficult to find a very suitable co-tenant. You can choose to look for online or with friends to rent. When the time is ripe to find a suitable partner to move out to live on their own.
- Pet-related issues, you need to consult the neighborhood in advance whether you can keep pets, in the process of keeping whether you need to buy the relevant insurance, these issues need to be communicated before moving in.
Parking Fee and Utility Cost
- Parking-related issues. Some neighborhoods provide free parking. However, there are many neighborhoods parking need to spend money to rent. And even garages can be rented. These issues should also be communicated in advance with the neighborhood when moving in.
- On the issue of utility cost. The community will generally provide you with specific water and electricity bill payment. Some neighborhoods are the same charge after they pay. He will be in each time to collect the rent and inform the cost of water and electricity. There are also some neighborhoods that require you to register your own account to pay online or at the business office.
Heating and Smoking problem
- Regarding air-conditioning and heating. You will definitely need heating in winter or air-conditioning to cool down in summer. You can find out in advance before moving in. Otherwise you will need to purchase some cooling or heating appliances in winter or summer to ensure your health.
- Regarding the issue of smoking, many neighborhoods may not allow smoking and even have smoke alarms in every house. If you need to smoke, then you need to consult your neighborhood about it. Or you can choose to smoke outside your balcony, for example.
FAQ
The average rent for housing in the United States per month is approximately $1,702 for an apartment, with variations based on factors such as location, size, and quality.
Apartments often provide ready access to a wide array of amenities such as fitness centers, swimming pools, communal spaces, and in some cases, on-site maintenance services. Also, many apartments are strategically located in urban and suburban areas, offering proximity to employment centers, public transportation, entertainment venues, and essential services.
It’s advisable to initiate the search for an apartment in New York City approximately 45 days prior to the desired move-in date. This timeline allows ample opportunity to explore available options, conduct thorough evaluations, and secure a suitable housing arrangement that aligns with your specific preferences and requirements.
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