Filed under Apartment Basics on August 19th, 2008:
Should You Resign Your Lease or Hit the Road?
It hardly seems possible that a year has come and gone, but your apartment lease is almost up and your landlord is asking you to resign. The question is do you stay put, or is it time to start looking at different Tampa apartments to suit your needs?
Making the decision to stay or go can be a little difficult. This can especially be the case if you happen to hate moving. Still, sometimes it does pay to relocate. To help you decide which route is the most prudent, ask yourself these questions:
Has my rent gone up? If your rent will increase with a new lease, it could be time to move on. If the increase is reasonable and you like your apartment, this is one thing. Should the increase not seem worth it, looking at new Tampa apartments certainly wouldn’t hurt.
How good is the property manager and the services he or she provides? If you are unhappy with the way you are treated in your apartment, moving out might be smart. If the service isn’t stellar and you have valid issues, a lease expiration can provide the perfect “out.”
Are my neighbors easy to live with? While you and your neighbors might not watch games together or share cups of sugar and recipes, you should be on friendly terms and be able to tolerate each other. If your neighbors are noisy, disruptive and generally make your living arrangement uncomfortable, now is probably the time to look at other Tampa apartments. While there’s no guarantee you won’t have bad neighbors in a new apartment, you could get very lucky during a move.
Do you like your apartment? This is a subjective question, but if you find yourself uncomfortable or constrained in your home, looking elsewhere can make sense. If you are still in love with the layout and the condition of the place a year later, staying put certainly works, too.
Do you like your apartment’s location in the complex? If you love your apartment and the service you receive, but hate its particular spot in the complex, lease time can be the perfect time to swap units. This is worth considering if you’re happy, but would prefer a downstairs unit, for example.
Do you like your apartment’s location in regard to work, school, friends’ homes and store locations? With transportation costs ever on the rise, these questions are worth serious consideration. It might be your apartment is located perfectly to suit your needs. If you find yourself hating the commute and paying more than you can handle, a new place might suit you better.
Can you afford to move? Even with the opportunity arising for you to get out of your apartment without financial penalty, you might find you simply do not have the money to relocate. If you can’t swing it, you might want to go month to month or just stay put while you save money.
Signing an apartment lease renewal is serious business. Before you obligate yourself for another year, consider the pros and cons closely.