Renting a Home
Renting a home in Jacksonville can be a pleasant experience. Below is a brief guidelines to help you with the process.
Finding a home. When looking for a home let your agent know what type of property you are looking for, what price range, how many bedrooms are you needing, if you have a pet, and how soon you will need to move in. This information will help your agent find a home the fits your needs faster and more efficient.
Once you and your agent have picked out some properties that fit your needs, the agent will take you out to view the property. If you like the property you have viewed, let your agent know that this is the property you want to rent and you are ready for the next step.
The next step in the process will be to go back to the office and fill out a credit application. On this application you will be asked various questions including a brief rental history. There is an application fee of $20.00 (nonrefundable) and will need to be paid up front before the credit report is ordered by the company. Once your credit has been run and your rental history has been checked it is time for the next step.
A security deposit is usually equal to one months rent. This deposit is kept in a separate security deposit account and is not considered and can not be used as rent.
Century 21 American Properties, Inc. does have a number of properties that accepts the military set aside program. We try to work hand in hand with base housing on issues that need to be addressed. The brief description of the set aside program is a program that allows the home owner of a property to waive the security deposit for a military person that qualifies through base housing. The military member must qualify for the property and will be required to set up an allotment with base housing for the amount of the rent.
The rental lease agreement is an instrument that is designed to protect you and the home owner in case there are any misunderstandings. Please read over the entire agreement before signing. The lease agreement will have the start date, ending date, rental price, security deposit, when rents are due, late charge information, rules and regulations, what your rights and what the owners rights are to name a few. If at anytime you have a question please feel free to ask.
Once you sign the lease, paid your security deposit and prorated rent (prorated rent is a partial month payment from the start date to the end of the rental month) you are ready to get the keys to the property. Along with the keys to the property you will receive a blank copy of a walk through sheet. This form is designed for you to go through the house room by room and mark down any discrepancies you find. Please be detailed and accurate. If there is a stain on the carpet in one of the bedrooms indicate it in the appropriate blank. Once you have completed this form turn it into the office no later then 10 days after you receive your key.
During your stay in one of our properties please be considerate of the property and do not abuse it. Each of our properties are owned by individuals, mostly military families, that have been stationed in another area. Please take care of the property as you would want someone to take care of yours.
We hope this brief over view has helped give you an idea of how the rental process works.
If you have any other questions or would like more information on properties available in the area, please fill out the form below.