How early is too early?
September 26, 2010 4:15 PM Subscribe
Is it too early to renew my lease that expires in December?
We lease a house from an individual owner, and the lease is up at the end of December. The area is fine and if we did move, it would be nearby. So far as I can tell, from looking at Craigslist and MLS, rents are still around what we're paying ($1,100). There's cheaper places, but they are much smaller and are only an average $150/month less expensive. There are larger places, but they are, of course, more expensive. Oh, and to top it off: When I talked to the owner when we last paid rent, she said she'd intended to ask us what our plans were as well, and said she'd be interested in our renewing for 6 or 12 months for the same terms as now.
This is probably a stupid question, but it's also the first time we've leased anywhere that we've actually wanted to stay. Is renewing three months ahead of time too early? My gut feeling is to go ahead and do it now so everything will be settled, so am I just being paranoid that I'll find "something better" that we could have taken in the intervening months?
We lease a house from an individual owner, and the lease is up at the end of December. The area is fine and if we did move, it would be nearby. So far as I can tell, from looking at Craigslist and MLS, rents are still around what we're paying ($1,100). There's cheaper places, but they are much smaller and are only an average $150/month less expensive. There are larger places, but they are, of course, more expensive. Oh, and to top it off: When I talked to the owner when we last paid rent, she said she'd intended to ask us what our plans were as well, and said she'd be interested in our renewing for 6 or 12 months for the same terms as now.
This is probably a stupid question, but it's also the first time we've leased anywhere that we've actually wanted to stay. Is renewing three months ahead of time too early? My gut feeling is to go ahead and do it now so everything will be settled, so am I just being paranoid that I'll find "something better" that we could have taken in the intervening months?
Everywhere I have lived has had the requirement to have the decision made at least 60 days early. Doing it a month earlier seems like common sense, if you know what you want to do, and just want to get it done.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:33 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:33 PM on September 26, 2010
Yeah, most of the places I've lived have wanted to know by June 30th for a Sept 1 lease, so that doesn't seem unreasonable.
posted by ldthomps at 5:20 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by ldthomps at 5:20 PM on September 26, 2010
I had a landlord that started asking in February if I wanted to renew at the end of July, but that was strictly for their benefit, not mine. It's certainly not too early to renew if you are sure you want to live there, but why not look around more formally and see what's out there if there's no real rush?
But I am a notorious anti-decider and like to keep my options open as long as possible. If you are happy there, don't want to move, and are paying a fair market value for the space, then go ahead and renew.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:29 PM on September 26, 2010
But I am a notorious anti-decider and like to keep my options open as long as possible. If you are happy there, don't want to move, and are paying a fair market value for the space, then go ahead and renew.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:29 PM on September 26, 2010
I think you're overthinking. You like the place; most landlords like to keep the same tenants as long as possible and has verbally offered to extend at the same rent. Yeah, there are games you could play in this market, but honestly, locking in the same rent in a place you like seems like a win-win. Go for it.
posted by randomkeystrike at 6:07 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by randomkeystrike at 6:07 PM on September 26, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by restless_nomad at 4:30 PM on September 26, 2010