Selecting the Best Rental Home for Your Family

What makes a great rental home in Nashville? How do I find it?

A few years ago, before my wife and I became homeowners, we found ourselves in the market for a rental home. Although we knew what we were looking for, we had a difficult time finding it, primarily because we were new to town and are dog owners.

Understandably, some of the landlords we managed to find were concerned about our basset hound, a loud and smelly howler by the name of Jake. We were looking to rent something old and stylish - “hardwood floors and high ceilings,” as we dubbed it, but were not too sure where to start. And while we found some people willing to rent to us on Craigslist, most weren’t about to let poor Jake into the house. Finally, we had to change tack and revise the way we went about our search. Instead of wasting our time with owners who wouldn’t budge on their pet policy, we began asking about it up front. We got a lot of rejections, but a few people did say yes. Over a three day period, we compiled a list of pet-friendly landlords and asked to see all of their properties in our price range. But that was only the beginning of our problems…all of the properties we visited were not in areas of town we would even consider.

While that’s a fairly mundane story in the scheme of things, it does highlight a certain truth about finding a place to rent. Selecting a rental home invariably comes with a fair amount of hassle, but you can reduce your level of stress and inconvenience by working with a qualified leasing company from the beginning. While everyone’s rental concerns are certainly unique, you won’t get very far until you recognize exactly what it is you need. In our case, my wife and I needed a landlord who would let us keep our basset hound and to be in a great part of town. That’s a rather minor concern, I know, but the dog created more of an obstacle than either of us ever expected. And there are other rental concerns that are certainly far more pressing, such as schools or whether or not a facility is handicap accessible. Whatever the concern may be, you won’t get very far until you prioritize your needs and find a landlord who is willing to work with you.

How to Find the Best Rental Property

So how does one go about finding the perfect place to rent? Well, it’s not easy. I can tell you that much up front. But don’t worry; it can be done. The trick is to figure out what exactly your rental concerns are, and then engage an expert leasing service like Summit Property Management. In some cases, you may know what your needs are right away. In others, it may take you a little time to figure them out. One rule of thumb, however, is that if it slows down your rental search, then it’s an issue that needs to be acknowledged and addressed.

When it comes to selecting a rental home, there are a number of common obstacles that present themselves. These rental concerns are the main reasons why would-be tenants have difficulty finding a house or condo. Location is usually a big concern, but other concerns include schools, amenities, cost, credit history, energy efficiency, and pets. Your own concerns may differ from the ones listed here, but they are no less significant. Many tenants, for instance, willingly accept less-than-ideal circumstances if it means they can live near a highly regarded public school in Brentwood, which allows them to obtain a quality education for their children. Whatever your rental concerns may be, you should prioritize them and tell your leasing specialist who can help you meet those special needs.

When it comes to conducting research, I’m a big believer in the yellow pages and the Internet. After all, those two bottomless wells of information are right at your fingertips. That is why we were so happy to find Summit’s website, it was incredibly easy to use and informative. Their interactive map really helped my wife and I understand the layout of Nashville and they always answered the phone when we had a question. So where did we end up finding our rental home? We rented an incredible Victorian home just four blocks off Main Street in historic downtown Franklin and we never would have found it without Summit’s help!

Exactly what makes a great Nashville rental home? The answer to that question varies from person to person, depending upon a family’s specific needs. Lakefront property is wonderful, for instance, unless you have small children who can’t swim. Then it becomes a stress-inducing source of anxiety. And a place in the country might be nice, unless you work in downtown Nashville and have to shell out hundreds of dollars for gas each month. In that case, rural living doesn’t make much sense at all. In the end, a property that meets your individual needs, whatever they happen to be, is ultimately what makes a great rental home.

So the next time you find yourself searching for a rental home in Nashville, don’t panic. Organize your search priorities and call Summit Property Management. After all, the home that meets all your needs is ultimately what makes a great rental home.