In my favorite apartment, when I moved in, I got a nice folder with information on local businesses, emergency numbers for the apt. complex (and an emergency-number magnet that came in tres handy), complex rules, office hours, and so forth.
But also, when I moved in, I found a bottle of pretty good wine in the kitchen. No one had mentioned it, no one gave it to me and made an issue of it, it was just… there.
When the building switched over to condos, I was one of the first to buy. And I’m still here.
Wow, this all very enlightening. My landlord is, to put it bluntly, a lazy old man. The chain on the front door is broken, the seal on the toilet is broken, in certain places the floor bends with you as you walk. There are bats in the basement. I’m pretty sure there’s no insulation in the walls, judging by how cold it gets here in the winter and how hot it gets in the summer.
Or this could just be how student housing is everywhere. (Only 5 more months and I’m free.)
I’ll just second, or third, a bunch of ideas that have already been mentioned. A map containing the nearest grocery store, pharmacy, covienence store etc. Phone numbers for water, gas, electricity, cable and contacting you. At least do this, if you’re not going to provide a phone book. Make sure everyone understands how rent is expected to be paid and if something goes wrong, please don’t go pounding on your tenant’s door at 7:00 on a Saturday asking where the money is.
Light bulbs, smoke/fire detectors, CO detectors (if required) and make sure they work. After living here for almost a year, we discovered our smoke detector was shot. I had to go out a buy a new one because if we asked the landlord for it, it would be another year to get it.
I’d like to add that you should outline what needs to be done when the time comes for them to move out, if they want to get any security deposits back (that is, if you even would give it back).
As a new young bride who had never lived in an apartment before, I was surprised to lose our deposit for a dirty oven - that I had never even looked inside, let alone used.
My landlord gave us a free pizza from Domino’s - I called and said I was new to the complex, they gave me one free pizza! It was nice to be able to feed the two guys who helped me move in…
Wow, I must be a nicer landlord than i thought! I’ve got the following done:
[ul]
[li]Phone Book[/li][li]Light Bulbs[/li][li]Keys[/li][li]Garage door openers[/li][li]Maps[/li][li]Smoke detector[/li][li]CO Detector[/li][li]Furnace Filters[/li][li]TP[/li][li]Light bulbs[/li][li]Phone List[/li][/ul]
There’s already a fridge, stove (broken), washer (broken), dryer, new water heater, AC and decent furnace in the house. The parts to fix the stove are in my coat pocket, and we’re discussing whether to fix the washer or just replace the 30-year old appliance.
Banking arrangements have been established, and the details will be written up.
I’m still deciding on the wine, as these people are getting a heckova deal already.
Actually, depending on regulations where you live, that might not be the case. Where I live, it is the landlord who is responsible for smoke detectors and keeping them up to date and functioning (and who can be fined if things aren’t up to spec).
It helps that I’ve known these new tenants for years. The husband was my Best Man at my wedding.
I’ve just never gone through the rental process, oddly enough as a lanlord or tenant. When I rented, I lived in the same house as my landlord, and close friends with him.
It was a different relationship, when the landlord cracks the beer that he bought and hands it to you.
