What things do I need to consider when looking for a place to live?

Concerning pets:

• Will I want to have pets?
• What is the landlord's policy on pets?
• How much will it cost for my pets?

Some landlords exclude all pets. Others charge up to $100 month extra plus extra damage deposit.

Will I, or my guests, want to smoke in my house? Many landlords prohibit smoking in their units. ASK! Note: Landlords that prohibit both pets and smoking usually have the nicest units.

How many square feet of living space are there in the unit?

Is the unit furnished, partially furnished or unfurnished?

Which appliances are included? Stove, refrigerator, air conditioner, ceiling fans, dishwasher, garbage disposal

What kinds of laundry facilities are provided?

Are there hookups for my washer and dryer? Is there a furnished washer and dryer? Is there a coin operated washer and dryer? If there are no laundry facilities on site, where is the closest Laundromat?

Do I need a garage or storage space? How much additional will it cost?

Is it ok to park my car on the street (ask about winter parking rules) or do I want off street parking?

Is there a lawn area? Is it exclusive to my unit or is it a shared space? How about a patio or deck?

Will I be responsible to shovel snow and mow the lawn? Does the landlord provide equipment?

Is there a maintenance person on call or will I have to wait for repairs and maintenance?

Where can I look to find a place to live?

The traditional sources are: Bluff Country Management L.L.C., of course, La Crosse Tribune (paper or online), ConneXtion magazine (available at many restaurants and gas stations in La Crosse, Laundromat and restaurant boards), and many websites.

Some landlords do not advertise but only place a "For Rent" sign in front of their building. The only way to find them is to drive around the neighborhoods that you want to live in and write down phone numbers and addresses.

The very best rental units are usually not advertised anywhere and have no "For Rent" sign in front. The only way you can find them is to ask your friends, people you work with and relatives if they know of any rental properties available. These landlords only rent to people who are recommended by someone they know. You have to start looking quite a while before you intend to move and be flexible enough to take a vacancy when it occurs.

What is the average housing cost per month?

Housing cost varies with number of bedrooms, things included with the rent like water, heat, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and quality of the building.

Before you start calling to make appointments to look at rental units, search several sources of rental information and assemble a list of available units that would seem to suit your needs. Write down the monthly rent along with extras that are included. Then make appointments to see the three best ones. When you call for an appointment, be clear if you have any definite needs like pets, laundry, parking, upper or lower unit and anything else that is a must.

Generally, you get what you pay for. There are landlords who have an informal policy of keeping their rents below market price so shop around. But to get a below market rent you have to be an above market tenant. You will have to furnish proof of several years of rental history that shows you are a good renter.

What will it cost me to move?

Moving costs vary with every person. Below are some of the things I may need to consider.

Damage Deposit, Pet deposit, First months rent.	$____________________
Some landlords require first & last months rent PLUS damage deposit
Cost to turn on utilities, telephone, cable	$____________________
Paying someone to move or hiring a moving truck or trailer	$____________________
Extra gas and packing boxes, tape, packing material	$____________________
Paying for Pizza and soda for helpers	$____________________
Additional cost for fast food till kitchen is set up	$____________________
Initial paper and cleaning supplies - vacuum cleaner?	$____________________
Window shades and decorating needs	$____________________
Additional furniture and appliances- microwave?	$____________________
Initial stock of food, towels, sheets, cookware, eating utensils	$____________________
Lawn mower, show shovel, leaf rake	$____________________

What will Utilities cost?

Sometimes a low rent amount hides a high cost of heating an older, poorly insulated unit. Also, in rare cases, one unit is billed for heat or electricity for more than that unit. To protect yourself, find out exactly what the history of the energy bills have been.

Electricity & Gas - Call Xcel Energy 1-800-895-4999

Tell them the exact address and unit number. They will furnish you with the average monthly bill. Also talk to them about a budget plan. That way you pay the same amount every month and won't have to worry about big bills in the winter months.

Water & Sewer, trash pickup - Discuss this with the landlord when you look at a unit. Have a clear understanding of what you are responsible for, and when payment is due, in writing before you sign the rental agreement.

How do I get telephone, cable and internet service in my apartment?

Telephone - Many people have cell phones and do not need telephone service to their home. However, if you need service:

Centurytel Telephone - New Service and Changes - (608) 796-5300

Charter Communications 1-800-581-0081

Frequently Asked Questions

I think my landlord is not treating me fairly. Who can I talk to?

State of Wisconsin, Bureau of Consumer Protection: 1 800-422-7128

It's true there are bad landlords. The percentage of bad landlords is roughly equal to the percentage of bad tenants - about 2%. When you're looking for housing you should look as closely at the landlord as you do at the apartment. Find out from people you work with and your friends who have rented from the landlord what kind of person the landlord is, how well they take care of their property and how they treat people who rent from them. If you rent a dump, you can expect to be dumped on.

Most landlords are in fact overly easy. Nearly all have uncollected rent and uncollected damages to their property to prove it. Some landlord problems are created by applicants who don't understand what they're getting into. Some landlord problems are created when the tenants situation changes and he waits and waits till there is no way out to tell the landlord about it. Some landlord problems are created by applicants who don't take the time to really look at and ask questions about the apartment they rent.

Read all of the paperwork you sign. Keep your promises and do your share of the work and even a marginally bad landlord will seem like a good person to deal with.

What kinds of things does a landlord look for in a tenant?

The landlord needs favorable answers to three basic questions. All are equally important.

• Will you pay the rent on time? The first of the month is the first of the month.
• Will you bother the neighbors? Do you play loud music or talk loudly and make excessive noise in your apartment? Do you frequently take out your garbage? Do you litter about the premises. Do you have a lot of guests? Do you have guests who park where they don't have a right to? Do you have extra vehicles you park where you have no right? Do you come and go late at night and make a lot of noise doing it?
• Will you take good care of his property and leave it in move in condition when you move out?

The tools he uses to answer these questions are:

• Landlord references: Talking to your previous landlords will usually answer these questions. If you have not rented before, be prepared with some references - your favorite teacher, a neighbor you did odd jobs for, a police officer you know, the supervisor of your paper route, the people you did babysitting for, supervisors of places you worked - even if only a short time. You would be surprised how well some of these people know you and what an asset their reference is.
• Criminal records check: Every state makes conviction records available to landlords. Some have websites. The landlord will check for evictions and other criminal activity the applicant has been charged with.
• Credit Records: There are several reporting agencies that have information on most of the financial transactions that people are involved in. This source will list evictions, judgments and bills sent to collection agencies as well as information on how prompt you pay bills.
• Employment Verification: Your employer will verify if you work there and for how long you have worked there.
• Gut Reaction: With experience, a landlord learns that the most believable stories are usually not true. Often landlords use their instinct to decide who they will rent to.

When applying for housing, just be honest and answer a landlord's questions simply and truthfully. It's his business, give him all the information and let him make the decision.

Why should I be concerned about my credit or criminal record if I know there is nothing bad on it?

People who do data input on both are only human. Similar names and addresses can appear on the wrong record. Review your records and make sure what's on it is really yours. You should do this about every 5 years. Get in the habit of using your 25th, 30th , 35th etc, birthdays to complete this task.

How can I find out what's on my credit record?

To get a free Credit Report:

Internet: www.annualcreditreport.com

Phone: 1-877-322-8228

Mail: Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105283
Atlanta, GA 30348-5283