6 tips on how to look for a flat to rent

Many people looking for a flat to rent ask themselves: How do I look for a flat to rent? Are there any tips or tricks that will let us find a flat that meets our requirements at an attractive price? Every year thousands of people rent a flat in Katowice – for these people we have gathered tips on how to look for an attractive flat

1. What do I really care about?

The final choice of flat is up to you alone, so before you start looking you should do some “soul-searching”, that is, make a list of what you really care about: is it only the price, or perhaps a suitable location, proximity to particular places in Katowice, good public transport connections, or maybe other factors.

Thanks to this, when analysing listings you will be better prepared and you won’t waste time viewing places that do not meet your expectations.

2. On your own or with an agent?

Surveying the market and looking for a suitable place on your own can be very time-consuming. Phoning about listings and travelling to flat viewings also eats up a lot of money.

Hiring an agent mainly saves time – the agent prepares a selection of listings tailored to the client, narrowing the choice of flats to the most suitable ones. The agent also helps during the viewings and the transaction itself, so you can count on professional help throughout the whole rental process. In addition, you can be sure that the documents prepared will meet all formal and legal requirements and will protect your interests

READ ALSO – AN ESTATE AGENCY’S COMMISSION FOR RENTING A FLAT

3. When you look for listings

When looking for flats to rent, the time of year has a big influence on the choice and prices, especially in large urban centres. Namely, prices go up in June and stay high until the end of October. This is because of students who, returning to Katowice to study, start looking for flats to rent as early as June, and finish their search as late as the end of October

4. The area

Katowice is an extremely sprawling city, so few people know the character of every district or housing estate in detail. In this case it is worth going back to point 1. If you don’t care about being close to green areas or being near the centre,
and you do not need public transport because you have your own car – it is worth choosing a district further from the city centre. Thanks to this, rents should be lower.

5. What the flat will be used for

Knowing that you will mainly sleep in the flat, you can afford a somewhat smaller flat and a lower standard. If you are going to spend more time in it or live there with your family, it should meet more stringent criteria

6. The condition of the flat

When looking at photos, it is hard to judge the real condition of a flat. That is why, when arranging a viewing, it is worth taking a few minutes to carefully check the wiring, plumbing and gas supply. Check the key areas of every property, such as the bathroom and kitchen. Light the gas water heater, turn on the taps. Also make sure the windows are airtight.

All this will let you avoid unpleasant surprises and additional costs after moving in.

Choosing a flat to rent is not easy, but if you follow the tips above, it may prove simpler, and the result much better. Unfortunately, the Polish rental market is still developing, and there is no shortage of listings online that mislead the user through poor presentation of the flat, distortions in the description and hidden defects.

Check the list of flats to rent offered by REMAX Gold or contact our agents, who will help you find a suitable place in your chosen location.