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1. Tish
   Member Profile

   Hello,

   I am planning on renting out the daylight basement in my new house. A couple quick questions for the other landlords on this site.

   1) Where do you go to perform credit checks? My dad uses this great site in CA that allows members to perform a credit check, eviction check, and criminal history check for only $30.00. Does anyone know if there is a similar service up here?

   2) In addition to craiglists, where are other great places to advertise places for rent?

   3) Last but not least, my daylight basement is aproximately 900 square feet, is well-lit, and comes with a bedroom, 3/4 bathroom, living room and kitchen area. The apartment will include a new stainless steel appliances including a refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, washer, and dryer. What do you think is a reasonable amount to charge for rent? I've been looking on craigslist but I haven't really found that many basement apartments advertised so I'm having a hard time determining what the monthly rent should be.

   Any and all assistance would be much appreciated. Thanks!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

2. Sue
   Member Profile

   

   As a renter, it would be difficult to say what the apartment would rent for without knowing the general area it's in. Rents can be higher in some areas than others.

   I know my last 2 landlords have done credit/background checks on us, charging about $30 or so to have it done, so a similar service is probably available such as the one you mentioned. Sorry I don't recall where it was done though.

   One thing to make sure is that the apartment is legal, in that it doesn't violate any codes to be rented out. I never used to care about that as a renter, but had issues back east when neighbors complained about our "illegal" apartment on their block and our landlord was forced to ask us to leave since he couldn't rent it anymore.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

3. PDieter
   Member Profile

   

   We have an ADU (mother-in-law apt) in our basement that we've rented for the past year. We are just now looking for a new renter. I used some credit check service last year but wasn't all that thrilled with the results, although it didn't matter. I'd be interested in something new myself.

   As for rent and advertising, we use craigslist and try hard for word of mouth with friends. Our last renter was off of craigslist and we have it listed there again right now.

   We are in the Belvidere near the junction and the apartment is daylight with it's own entrance, quite new and permitted. All utilities are included (water, heat, elect, cable TV and wireless internet)

   Here's a link to all the info and some pictures so you can decided how comparable it is.

   http://web.me.com/riverwader/blog/ADU_Flyer.html

   Posted 2 years ago #         

4. miws
   Member Profile

   

   Hi Tish,

   I'm afraid I don't have any advice for you, but thought I mention that longtime WSB'er Pigeonmom recently posted This Thread here in the Forums, looking for a new place to live, for her and her medium sized dog, coming up in February or March.

   Don't know if she's lined anything up yet, or if this could work out for the two of you, but just thought I'd put it out there.

   Mike

   Posted 2 years ago #         

5. SarahScoot
   Member Profile

   

   The owner of the place we're about to move to used e-renter.com to do a credit/background check. It gave instantaneous feedback.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

6. Weezie
   Member Profile

   We have used National Tenant Network for years for background checks. Also, we have had the best success with a sign out front of the rental property. We include a brief description and a phone number to call.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

7. sacatosh
   Member Profile

   If you put out a sign, don't just put the phone number on it. Make it big, bold and visible from the road. Include info such as "1br 1ba $950" along with the phone number, to the hassle of responding to a hundred people who all want to know how many bedrooms.

   In ads, don't forget inside pictures - kitchen, bathroom, bedroom - people want to know where they'd be living.

   Lastly, remember that in the current economy, everyone's credit has gone down. I personally would weigh criminal history, eviction history and rental references higher than a credit check.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

8. PDieter
   Member Profile

   

   We've been thinking about the sign, I've heard a lot of people do well with them.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

9. Tish
   Member Profile

   Thanks for all the great advice! If anyone else has any additional tips or suggestions, I hope you'll post as well :)

   ::off to check out the recommendations listed above::

   Posted 2 years ago #         

10. service dog academy
    Member Profile

    

    i would also suggest allowing people to do services for you in exchange for a deal on the rent. i hate mowing the lawn and if i owned a house that i could rent i would be willing to exchange some rent money for gardening/landscaping/mowing.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

11. Tish
    Member Profile

    I'm definitely open to that -- especially if the individual has landscaping design experience.

    The unit, if I do say so myself, is gorgeous. It has shaker maple cabinets, quartz countertops, all new stainless steel appliances, off-street parking and plenty of light. The only drawback is that with all the money I spent on construction costs, I have very little left to fix up the yard. So yeah, I'm willing to barter :)

    Thanks for the suggestion!

    Posted 2 years ago #         

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