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Renter guide
Questions to ask before you rent a room
Rent is only part of the cost of a room. This checklist helps you compare rooms on the full price, the rules and the people you will live with.
1. What is the full monthly cost?
Ask what the rent includes. Electric, gas, water, trash and internet can add up. A $700 room with $150 of separate utilities and internet costs $850 a month, the same as an $850 room with everything included. That is an example to show the math, so run it with the real numbers for each room.
2. What does it cost to move in?
- First month's rent
- Security deposit, and when it is returned
- Any application or processing fee, and what it covers
- Background and credit check costs, and who pays them
3. What is the lease?
Ask how long it is, whether it is month to month, and what happens if you need to leave early. Ask whether you can pay monthly or weekly. Get the terms in writing.
4. Who will you live with?
Ask how many housemates there are, how many people share each bathroom, and whether you can meet them or see the shared spaces on the tour.
5. What are the house rules?
Ask about guests, quiet hours, pets, smoking, parking and cleaning. Shared weekly cleaning of common spaces is common, and it is better to know before you move in.
6. What comes with the room?
Ask whether it is furnished, what the furniture is, and whether there is a washer and dryer, a dishwasher and off-street parking.
7. How does screening work?
Ask what is checked (background, credit, income) and whether every applicant is held to the same standard. On this site every applicant needs a background check, a credit check, and verifiable proof and history of income.
8. Can you tour in person?
See the room before you pay anything. If a listing will not let you tour, read how to spot a fake room listing.
See the answers for our rooms
Each room page answers these questions: Kennesaw, Loganville and Atlanta.
Common questions
What should I ask before renting a room?
Ask for the full monthly cost including utilities and internet, the move-in costs, the lease length, how many people share the bathroom and kitchen, the house rules, how applicants are screened, and whether you can tour in person.
How do I compare two rooms with different prices?
Add the separate utilities and internet to the rent of the cheaper-looking room, then compare the all-in monthly totals.