Real Estate Matters | The 25 questions you must ask as a tenant renting a property – Part 2

Juliet Risdon

Juliet Risdon is a Director of JML Property and a property investor.
Having established the company in 1994, JML Property offers Investment Property & Homes. It specializes in managing properties for owners and investors, and providing attractive and comfortable homes for tenants.

If you haven’t seen the earlier articles on this subject, here’s a brief introduction to the series. Of course you can find the articles online on the Macau Daily Times website.
With the high costs and the potential happiness of your family at stake, it’s natural to be concerned that you are both making a good decision and getting value for money.
The trouble is you may find yourself renting a property whilst starting a new job, moving your family to a new country and enrolling the kids in a new school all at the same time.
Of course it’s important to do your homework about any potential property you are considering to rent, and with so many things going on you also have to remember to ask your agent the most important questions about the property you are considering.
The list below is in no particular order, and is intended as a starting point to help identify which questions to ask.
This week we start with…

How’s the water pressure?
Be sure to test the water system in the apartment.
There is nothing more miserable than a weak shower day after day. Check the water pressure and find out how long you have to wait for the water to heat up or for before the water turns cold etc.
Confirm that the plumbing works by flushing toilets, and check for problems with clogged drains.
Small point perhaps, but they will irritate the hell out of you when you live there.

How’s the air conditioning?
Make sure the air conditioning works, and do ask if the air cons are ‘reverse cycle’ to provide heat in the winter.
Whilst the cold weather does not usually last very long, the humidity makes sure that it feels like the North Pole, and the properties are not usually built with adequate insulation for the winter.
If you like to cook at home, we also suggest checking the ventilation in the kitchen.
This is also a good time to ask about the average utility bills from the previous occupant.

How many bathrooms are there and how do I access them?
Does the apartment only have one bathroom? If so, where is it located?
When the apartment is designed so that the bathroom is only accessible via the bedroom, then remember your guests will need to go through your bedroom to use it.
Again, a seemingly trivial point that can easily be overlooked, but becomes a major issue if you have a guest staying.

Who are my neighbors?
It’s always a good idea to get a sense of the people with whom you will be sharing a building and of course a floor and lobby.
If you know someone in the building, ask them about the tenants in general. If you are able to find out how long the neighbours have been living there and whether or not there has been high turnover of occupants.
It’s also a good idea to find out how thin or thick the walls and floors are, and whether you will be able to hear your neighbours above, below, or around you.
Finally, if the building shares a space above a restaurant, be aware of the smells, noise and closing time of the establishment.

How do I get to work? Is there parking, or is a bus stop nearby?
Will you need a car to get around?
This is a major issue in Macau today, and will add a large amount to the cost if living.
In addition to rent, you’ll also have to pay for parking, fuel, insurance, and maintenance. This will have to be balanced with option of renting a central apartment that allows the convenience of being able to walk everywhere.
Some buildings have one parking spot assigned to your rental unit. This is convenient, but where does your friend park when he visits? How about when you invite three friends over, each with their own car that needs to be parked?
It’s a major problem in Macau and not one that getting any easier. It will deserve careful thought on your side.

Next Week: “… cellphone reception/WiFi connectivity” and others…..

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