Finding a nice property that matches your budget and preference is surely relieving. However, in order to ensure the finalisation of the deal, you should bear in mind the step of Property viewing in Dubai, which is a crucial part of the process.
To help you through this step, find below the tips about when to schedule the appointment and what to check before renting the property.
Checklist of Property Viewing for Rentals in Dubai
1. Choose the Right Time
When it comes to finding a property to rent, you should choose the right time in order to find the best deal. The search process is quite important for exploring the different options with ranging sizes and prices.
In addition, you can also seek assistance from professional real estate agents which will make the process much easier and surely guarantee you good options.
That’s why choosing the right time to preview the property in Dubai is essential; here are more tips to be ready to search for a new property at any time.
- If the rental period of the current tenant ended before the landlord found a new tenant, the available properties usually are rented within month or two months from the listing’s date of publishing.
- The ads are updated on daily bases, so you should start early searching for a property as the real chances don’t wait.
- Bear in mind that the landlord won’t negotiate with you regarding the conditions and rental amount as long as you don’t show a real interest.
- It’s good to put a timeline that suits your daily routine before calling for an inspection; this is to have enough time to preview the property well.
In case you can’t reach a real estate agent by phone or email, you can reach them through Whatsapp on Property Finder’s website. The portal offers you such a service to communicate with the real estate agent and preview the property in a short time.
These steps will help you rent like a pro and make the process quick and efficient.
2. Check the Property’s Specifications
It’s super important to check the information included and mentioned in the real estate advertisement that you find suitable; you can do so by asking a trusted real estate agent about the validity of this information.
Moreover, communicating with the real estate agent is your chance to ensure that the unit is still available and all the mentioned details are valid; you can also ask them about the annual rental, the number of cheques needed, and the security deposit.
3. Explore the Property’s Location
Your unit’s location is a top priority and a main factor for deciding whether it’s a suitable option or not; consequently, you should do a good check on the property location this is through
- Knowing the Commute Time. To make sure that this property’s location is good, you should calculate how much time it will take you to reach your work, your kid’s school, or any other place you regularly go to.
Not just virtually, you can go yourself to calculate the distance and time using the Calculate Travel time feature, which is available on Property Finder’s app.
- Evaluating the Traffic Flow in this Area. This is a significant point to consider, especially during rush hours; this is as the time mentioned in the ad to reach the property would vary because of the traffic.
- Identify the Distance Between Property and Important Services. Also, to know whether the address of the unit is optimum or not, you should find how far it’s from schools, nurseries, malls, sporting clubs, or any essential facility you need.
4. Discover Your New Community
Getting used to your new community might be hard in the beginning, yet to ensure a fast adaptation, you should first make sure it meets your preferences. You can have a tour there to learn more about its lifestyle and atmosphere.
In addition to the importance of knowing the commute time, the traffic, and the available services, there are other aspects below that you need to consider, too.
- Any Sources of Disturbance. Having a quiet living atmosphere is surely a great perk; to ensure you enjoy this, have a look around the property for any sources of disturbance.
This includes hospitals, for example, as the sounds of ambulance cars will be frequent or a neighbouring school, so the children’s sounds will usually be in the background.
- Have a Tour Around the Community at Different Timings. The building where the unit is located might look different during the day and night; consequently, to effectively view the building and area, you can visit it twice at night and in the morning.
5. Know the Property’s Exterior Facilities
The unit you’re viewing will have not only interior amenities but also exterior ones, which you should pay attention to as well.
- Explore the Exterior Amenities. You can have a look at the external features that come with the unit, like gardens, open spaces, walking lanes, and more; this is to know whether it undergoes good maintenance or not.
- Check the Availability of Car Parking. Usually, there is a free parking slot for the tenants. However, you should also double check as in case there is not, then you should find out if there is a specified place in the street to park your car to avoid any hassle.
6. Explore the Property’s Interior Advantages
Here comes the most important part: exploring and inspecting the property itself. Find below a quick checklist of the things you should consider while inspecting your new home.
- Check all the Bedrooms. You can go through all the bedrooms to make sure their sizes match the information in the advertisement; this is also to find out if you it suitable or not, as in reality, it surely looks more accurate.
- Have a Look at the Storing Units. Tenants should also look over the built-in cupboards, the laundry area, and the internal or external storage units.
- Check the Electric Machines. If the property includes machines like a refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, and oven, you should check their functionality.
Besides, you can also ask for their maintenance procedures in case any issue arises.
7. Ask More Questions
Having questions is a great opportunity to learn more information a remove any ambiguity you have. That’s why it’s not just about viewing the property, as asking questions is as much important as seeing it.
Those inquiries might be like this:
- What is the address of the unit?
- Does the unit overlook any views?
- Are pets allowed in the unit? If yes, is there an extra fee?
- How long has the property been for rent?
- Why did the previous tenant leave?
Offering these questions will save you time and effort; whether the answers are positive or negative, it will clear your vision in order to proceed or not.
Besides, in case you liked the property and the answers were satisfactory, then you have to pick an appointment for inspection and a meeting point.
8. Check the Security System
The security systems differ from one community to another and also according to the type of unit you choose. Usually, the units are either inside gated compounds or in buildings/towers, so the security system changes accordingly.
- Gated Communities: There are security gates, ensuring the residents’ safety 24/7, in addition to daily security patrols across the community.
In some areas, residents might be asked to show identification cards at the entrance for extra security.
- Residential Buildings: As a resident in a building or a tower, you should ensure the availability of a 24/7 guarding service, whether the elevators need an access ship, and whether there are Surveillance cameras or not.
9. Inspect the Property with Property Finder’s Assistance
Viewing the unit for rent is exciting, yet you have to bear in mind some tips to ensure the best results and easily make your decision.
To help you do so, find below a checklist with the important points while inspecting the property:
- Make it in the morning: seeing the property is surely better during the day while the sunlight is still there, which gives you more visibility. In some cases, the electricity might not be working, that’s why it’s always recommended to avoid going at night.
- Take some photos by yourself: having some shots for each part of the unit is an ideal tip; this is as you might forget some details or need to refresh your mind with the unit’s interiors after leaving it.
So don’t forget to have some videos or photos during your appointment, as this will help you while making your final decision.
- Check if there are any plumbing issues: you should try opening all the taps and showers to double-check if there are any issues or items that need to be fixed.
- Know how many parking slots are available for you: this is a good point to bear in mind as parking the car might be quite hectic in case there is no parking.
In addition, don’t forget to ask how many slots you can use, as studio or one-bedroom apartment tenants usually have one slot.
For apartments with 2 bedrooms or more, their residents usually have 2 parking slots; however, it might vary depending on the population of this area.
- Check the security system: You can ask if there is a building guardian or a security team and Surveillance cameras.
- Ask if pets are allowed or not: in case you have pets, you have to check if they are allowed or not in the building and also if there are any facilities offered to them.
This should be in an early stage before finalizing the deal since it’s one of the factors that might affect your decision.
10. Preview the Property’s Overall Status
Last but not least, this final step is super important as it includes a detailed overview of the property’s overall condition.
People usually focus on the major things, although the minor details could be real pain points, too.
Have a look at the below ones to them in mind too:
- Taking photos of any default or issue in the unit: this is to have proof and show it later to the landlord so they work on fixing it since it’s legally your right. If you agree to any extra maintenance, this should be clearly mentioned in the contract.
- Repainting the property: you can request this from the landlord or the cleaning of all the furnishings (in case it’s furnished) before you move to the unit.
It’s also valid to ask them to clean the apartment/villa deeply. Those requests are also the landlord’s responsibility and legally, they shouldn’t refuse them.
- Checking the recent bills of pest control companies: this is to make sure there weren’t any insects or rodents.
- Settling on the maintenance responsibility: you should agree with the landlord on who is responsible for the maintenance, and in case it’s yours, then what are the needed tasks.
Also, don’t hesitate to ask if you can make changes or amendments to any part of the unit.
11. Know About the Average Rental for Such Type of Unit
It’s super important to check the market’s average rentals for the unit you’re considering and the community. This gives you awareness about the range, so you can easily assess if the number you’re asked for is reasonable or overpriced.
Besides, sometimes, it might be low and unrealistic which means you need to investigate more about this to avoid any issues. An easy way to have a look at the market prices is through Data Guru’s tools, Community Insights and Residential Insights.
- Community Insights: This tool gives you a deeper understanding of the community you’re considering, including information about its services, facilities, and what other residents think about it.
In addition, you can find the average rental prices for all the available unit types in this area, which are always up to date with the market.
- Residential Insights: In case you are already settled on the community and choosing from its buildings or sub-communities, this tool is tailored for you.
It offers you full details about the building you’re interested in, like- Building age
- Number of floors
- The rate of residents who leased long and short-term rentals, so you can assess whether it is suitable for your needs or not
- The average renewal rate
- The nearest schools, restaurants, hospitals, groceries
- Price trends in the market for periods 1,2 and 5 years
- The average lease price of the units inside the tower/building
- The rental prices of residential buildings close to your desired location can give you a clearer picture of the surrounding market rates.
This information helps you explore alternative options that may better fit your budget or solidify your decision on your initial choice.
In Dubai, viewing the property you want to rent is an exciting step and following these tips will make it more interesting and effective. You have an inclusive checklist for property viewing while renting in Dubai, so just follow it for a smooth process.
Don’t stress out in case this unit doesn’t meet your expectations, as the properties for rent in Dubai are endless, you will surely find a suitable one.
