Finding the perfect rental can be a taxing experience. Of course, Realestate.com.kh’s 6000+ rental listings make it effortless to see what is available across the Cambodian rental market. Yet, when it comes to inspections, the bulk of your search and consideration usually revolves around technical aspects of the new home, such as proximity to your office or your kid’s school, your budget, the number of bedrooms and the like, making it easy to overlook some of the smaller but equally important details during the heat of the viewing. Here’s a checklist, thanks to Realestate.com.kh, to ensure you’re not forgetting anything!

Additional costs:

Most rental rates are exclusive of extra monthly charges. Monthly maintenance, waste collection, gas and water rates, electricity bills, bond payments, etc. can add to the monthly rental price significantly – so make sure you inquire about all extra expenses while you are viewing, and confirm them in the rental contract before signing. Expect to pay no more than 1000 Riel/$0.25 per kilowatt for electricity, $5 permonth for water charges & trash collection and $5 per month for TV cable connection.

Read the contract:

Seems like a no-brainer, but read your rental agreement with care and attention. Learn the ways in which you can be liable for a breach of your contract, for example, having pets or parties – different land lords’ stipulate different reasons for being allowed to throw you out, so make sure you know what the land lord in question expects of you before you agree to stay.

Everyone haggles!

Always bargain the price with your landlord no matter how it makes you feel. The same goes for your real estate agent. Remember that while your real estate agent is acting in your interests to some degree, they are ultimately acting on behalf of the sale, and their commission will be higher if the final agreed price is higher. If you are applying for a long term rental, 1 year or over, use this as a bartering tool. Also, while the landlord may not be flexible on monthly rental price, you may still be able to push them for additional services or home furnishing/appliances for free as contract sweeteners. An upfront advance on your first few months’ rent may also be an enticing bartering point, since landlords looks for a fast cash injection in the short term, but ensure everything is receipted correctly.

Safety First:

Regardless of what your agent tells you, be personally responsible for you and your family’s safety when considering any new rental property. Walk around the neighborhood of any property you are considering renting, speak with neighbors (and other tenants, if it is a shared building), and come back to the area at nighttime, and make sure no hidden threats appear when the sun goes down. Also, always consider the potential for flooding. A 24- hour review is necessary to note any noise hazards too – there may be construction in the afternoon that you never noticed at the morning, or a night club could open at night next door. For a little extra attention before agreeing to the rental contract, you can truly understand the pros and cons of the property.

Little Things:

Check faucets, door hinges, locks, door knobs, power points, appliances, water heaters and gas cookers before agreeing to rent. Most of the time these things look perfect until further investigation - but if you catch minor problems now, you can ask the landlord to fix them before the agreement is settled.

Bug Free?

Keep your eyes peeled for any signs of a bug infestation. It is not uncommon, and it’s easy to miss signs that your new home is shared by a family of cockroaches, termites, mice or other pests. Unless it’s a critter co-lease you’re looking for, find out before it’s too late.

Photo Evidence:

Before agreeing to the bond payment, take photos of every room in the house while it is empty. In these pictures, make sure you evidence any preexisting damage to the property. This way, when your contract eventually ends, the landlord has no grounds to deduct wear and tear damages from your deposit that in fact you weren’t responsible for.

You’re now ready! Get on Realestate.com.kh/rent today, and start the search for your dream rental!