After renting apartments in New York City for over 15 years, I came to Olean and assumed the role of the property owner/landlord. This transition gave me an understanding of what was on offer in Olean apartment rentals, as well as what potential tenants in Olean were looking for in an apartment rental. To this, I then added my own experience-based understanding of what a good rental should offer.
And so, over the past 5 ½ years of working with filling vacancies, apartment showings, renovations, tenants, and the Olean apartment rental business in general with all its particularities, I have found there to be some generally applicable qualities and characteristics prospective tenants ought to look for in their Olean apartment rentals.
Olean is a very lovely place, but there are, unfortunately, many houses all over the city that are in terrible shape, and appear that they may collapse at any time. I’ve also heard that many property owners/managers are slow to respond (if at all), and are unprofessional in their approach to renting.
Therefore, some simple guidelines are helpful to make a well-informed selection of your future residence in the Olean apartment rental world.
The list of Olean Apartment Rental Tips below is a summary of recommended best practices that I have formulated over a twenty combined years of working with rentals, both as the tenant, and as the landlord. You may not find a property that satisfies all the guidelines below, but certainly, the Olean apartment you choose to live in should reflect a majority of the advice provided.
Top Rental Tips from Best Value Olean Apartment
1. How does the overall neighborhood look?
- Right out of the gates, look for red flags indicating potential issues: loud music; abandoned houses or houses in disrepair; barking/roaming dogs (or other animals), etc.
2. Look for the property to be in good general repair/condition.
- The shape in which a property owner maintains the exterior of a house is an immediate indicator of their overall management style and what you can expect to find on the inside – be on the lookout.
- There should be no obvious signs of exterior damage, such as: holes in the siding; missing pieces of gutter of eave’s trough; etc.
- Take a good look at the state of:
- Siding and roof – are they in decent to good shape?
- Porch – is the porch free of inappropriate clutter, trash, debris, etc.?
- Steps/Stairs – are all stairs intact and safe to step on?
- The lawn – is the lawn being cared for? Is there litter (especially cigarette butts)?
- The sidewalks and driveways – are the sidewalks and driveways intact and free of snow (during winter) or obstructions?
3. Look for a MODERN interior in your Olean apartment rental.
- Ask about the age of the house, as well as how long it’s been since the apartment was remodeled – particularly the kitchen and the bathroom. Don’t settle for retro.
- Modern interiors not only look and perform better, but they also are also good for morale. This point shouldn’t be underestimated – living in an ugly, retro apartment is a real downer.
- Modern does not necessarily mean “fancy”; it just shows that the property owner cares enough about the property to keep it visually appealing and fully functional!
4. Look for FRESH interiors in your Olean apartment rental.
- As with a modern interior, your Olean apartment rental should have a fresh and clean look to it, and not appear as if it were frozen in an old, neglected state from yesteryear.
- There should be no obvious signs of damage, such as holes punched in walls or doors; broken/cracked windows; etc.
- Some things to look for when in a “fresh and clean” Olean apartment are:
- New/newer electrical outlets and light switches
- Fresh/recent paint job throughout the apartment
- New/newer windows, or at least functional, intact windows that stop drafts
- Window blinds are present as necessary, and in proper shape and working order
- New/newer carpets that don’t appear dirty, worn, or dated
- Bright lighting throughout the apartment – no missing or broken lights/bulbs
- Clean, fully-functional appliances (where offered)
- Furniture is in good, desirable shape (where offered)
5. Look for general cleanliness, both inside and outside the property/apartment.
- Are common use areas clean and inviting? For example, is the basement where the laundry machines are located well-lit, clean, and free of dirt and clutter?
- Is there any evidence of vermin anywhere?
- Is the vacant apartment you are looking at sparklingly clean and dust-free?
- Are walkways and stairwells clean, and without obstructions?
6. Look for proper safety and security everywhere inside and outside the property.
- Are there smoke/carbon monoxide detectors in the apartment and hallways?
- Are there secure locks barring entry from non-residents into the building? Into the apartment?
- Are there exterior lights? Are they fully operational?
- Are there security cameras on the premises to monitor and protect the property?
7. Look for professionalism from the property owner or manager of your Olean apartment rental.
- In the world of Olean apartment rentals, there are many property owners/managers that are so informal that they don’t even have their tenants sign leases!
- Look for a landlord/property manager that uses proper documentation to give evidence of a serious, proper business operation:
- Rental application seeking key info (especially references)
- Properly-written lease
- Rental agreement/rules spelling out what is expected of you, and what you can expect of the management
- Property condition survey – to highlight anything about the Olean apartment rental that needs attention and correction
8. Look for excellent and prompt service.
- The level of service offered by your prospective Olean apartment landlord should be just as good as you would expect to receive at any well-established and reputable customer-centered business! This is where you will be living for some time, so service is important.
- The way in which the property owner treats you from the first contact and onwards will give you a good idea of what to expect over the period of your tenancy, service-wise.
- A property owner/manager should show themselves to be courteous and reliable at all times – to keep his/her word to you about anything offered or promised. Period.
- Don’t settle for poor service for any reason! Even if the apartment looks good during a showing, you should remember that responsiveness and attention to detail are unseen, but crucial benefits that mean everything if something goes wrong with the rental.
9. Look for VALUE for your money!
- Review all the things you are being offered with your Olean apartment rental prospect in the context of the guidelines from first seven Olean Apartment rental tips, above.
- It also helps to compare the rental and service to other places you may be looking at.
- If the quality of the rental and services appear to be good, then check: how is the monthly rent asking price? Are you getting good value for your hard-earned money?
- You work hard for your money, and deserve quality and value. The savvy apartment renter will be able to identify when the value of the rental is more than the price being asked – when they are getting great bang for their buck. Accept nothing less!
We hope you find our list of Rental Tips helpful as you search for your Olean apartment rental. Be sure to make an informed decision with whatever rental you decide to take, and good luck with this important process and decision! Thanks for visiting!