Tips for South Bay Living
With its beautiful beaches, safe communities, friendly neighbors
and great schools, the Los Angeles South Bay is the best place to live in
Southern California. Of course, since you’re looking for a place here, you probably
already know that. Well, here are some simple tips to help make the South Bay your home.
- CHECK OUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS
Whether you drive, bike or walk around, you’ll want to check out
the neighborhoods for compatibility and availability. Besides
discovering new areas that you may like, you never know when you
might catch a new "for rent" sign on a place that you love. You’ll
also be able to get phone numbers for property managers of buildings
that you pass by. Even if there isn’t a vacancy sign up, it is
a good idea to call and just ask if they have anything coming
available. The turnover in this market is very high and you just
might get lucky.
- NETWORKING
Searching for a rental is not the time to be shy. Tell your friends and co-workers you’re moving and what you looking for. The more
eyes and ears out there looking for you, the better. Put up a
note in the coffee shop or place a "rental wanted" ad in the local paper such as the Daily Breeze, Beach Reporter or L.A. South Bay Living.
And if an owner says that the place you called on is rented, be
sure to ask if they have anything else.
- SIGN-UP:
Okay, so I’m not exactly objective here but I honestly cannot
think of anything more helpful than joining a service to help
you find a place to live. A service like South Bay Rentals will
double your options and save you time. Even after signing up,
you still need to make sure that you are calling the owners when
the listings are published.
GETTING A PLACE
- FLEXIBILITY: "You can’t always get what you want."
Try to keep yourself open to other living arrangements. Unless
you are loaded with cash, you may have to compromise a bit. Can
you live without the fireplace? Can you get more for your money
in a neighboring community? Instead of limiting yourself to the
10% of rentals with air conditioning, could you just buy one for
$200? You may surprise yourself at what you can adapt to and still
be happy.
- PETS
Perhaps no issue is more frustrating than moving with pets. The
harsh reality is that over 60% of properties will not accept cats
and nearly 80% will not accept dogs. Settling for carpets when
you had you heart set on hardwood floors is one thing, but live
without Fido? Forget it! Our pets are a part of our family.
While the outlook may seem grim there are things you can do to
help increase the odds in your favor. For one thing, not all pets
are created equal. Is you pet small or older? Has is gone through
obedience training? Is your cat kept indoors? Attach a photo of
your pet to your application or bring one with you when you meet
with the landlord. Getting a good reference from your current
landlord, veterinarian and even your neighbors can be a tremendous
help too. Perhaps the best thing you can do is to offer a pet
deposit to cover for any damages. A good place to start might
be to offer $200 for a cat and $500 or more for a dog. Taking
these extra steps can say as much about you as your pet. After
all, pet owners make good tenants.
- BE PROFESSIONAL
Generally, don’t call owners before 8am or after 9pm. Dress appropriately
when you go to look at the property. Remember that while you are
checking out the property the owner is checking you out as well.
Their sixth sense about tenants can be as important to them as
your credit history. If you make an appointment to see a place,
be sure to keep it or call to cancel. And finally, get it in writing!
Verbal agreements can often lead to misunderstandings and missed
opportunities. Keep copies of all receipts, deposits, rental agreements
and leases.
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