How Important is a Viewing Before Signing a Lease?

When you move into a new home or apartment, it’s a big deal. It's like beginning a new part of your life. You want to feel happy, safe, and comfortable in your new space. But before you sign that paper called a “lease” that says you will live there and pay rent, there’s something essential you should do. This blog will discuss why a viewing is so important before you sign a lease.

What is a lease?

A lease is a written agreement between two people about renting a place.

• The owner (called the lessor)
• The user (called the lessee)​

It allows the user to use something, like a house, car, or equipment, for a certain amount of time in exchange for regular payments.

What’s in a Lease?

A lease is like a promise written on paper. It usually includes:​

• Names – Who is renting and who owns the item?
• Description – Details about the item being rented.
• Period – How long the lease lasts (like 6 months or 1 year).
• Payments – How much to pay and when.
• Rules – What each person must do (like taking care of the item).
• Signatures – Both people sign to agree.​

Types of Leases

Leases can be for many things:​

• Homes – Apartments or houses.
• Cars – Driving a car without buying it.
• Equipment – Tools or machines for work.​

Why Use a Lease?

A lease helps both sides, the owners and the users, to be happy and understand their responsibilities. Always read the lease carefully. It explains what you're allowed to do and what you're not allowed to do. If you have questions, ask someone you trust.​

What Is a Viewing?

A property viewing is when you go to look at a home or apartment before you decide to live there.

What Do You Do During a Viewing?

When you visit the home, you can:

• Walk around all the rooms.
• Look at the floors and walls.
• Check if the windows open and close.
• Flush the toilet and turn on the taps.
• Open closets and kitchen cabinets.
• See how clean and safe everything is.

What Else Should You Check?

It’s not just about the inside! A viewing helps you check other important things too:

• What is the neighborhood like?
• Are the buses or trains nearby?
• Is it quiet or noisy?
• Are there shops, schools, or parks close by?

Don’t rush. Take your time. A good home is more than just walls and windows — it should feel safe, comfy, and right for you.

Why Is a Viewing So Important?

Let’s talk about the big reasons why you should always do a viewing before signing a lease.

What you see online is not always real.

Sometimes, pictures of the apartments or houses on websites look perfect, but when you get there in person, they may look very different.

• Maybe the photos are old.
• The landlord might have only shown the best parts of the apartment.
• Maybe the place looks smaller in real life.

A photo can't tell you how it smells, how it feels, or how loud it is. You need to go and see for yourself.

You can check for problems

When you do a viewing, you can find problems like.

• Leaky faucets
• Broken windows
• Holes in the walls
• Stains on the carpet
• Bugs or mice
• Bad smells.

If you sign the lease first and find these problems later, you might be stuck living there or have to pay to leave the lease.

You can ask questions

When you go for a viewing, you can ask the landlord or the person showing you the place.

• "Has this place been cleaned recently?"​
• Are there other people living above or below me?
• What happens if something breaks?
• Is there heat in the winter? Air conditioning in the summer?
• Is it okay to have pets?

These questions help you learn more about your future home. It’s better to ask before you move in.

You can feel the place

Some places just feel good. Others don’t. When you walk into a home, you might feel.

• I can see myself living here.
• Or you might feel, “This doesn’t feel right.”

That feeling is important. A home should feel safe, happy, and peaceful. You can’t feel that from pictures. Only a viewing can help with that.

What If You Can’t Go to the Viewing?

Sometimes people move to a new city or even a different country. But what if you can’t go see the apartment before you decide to live there?

Don’t worry! There are still smart ways to check if the place is right for you.

Ask someone you know

If you have a friend or family member in the area, ask them to help!

• They can go see the apartment for you.
• They can show you around through a video call.
• They can tell you what they see, hear, and smell.
• They can take photos or videos for you.

Ask for a live video tour

Some landlords or agents can walk through the apartment with their phone while you watch from your screen.

Make sure they show you:

• Every room
• Inside closets and cabinets
• Windows and the view
• The kitchen and bathroom
• The outside of the building and the hallways.

Do a 3D virtual tour

Some apartments have online 3D tours. It’s not as good as being there, but still helpful.

• Zoom in to see details.
• Check the walls, floors, and windows.
• Look at the layout.

Learn about the neighborhood

Even if you can't visit, you can learn a lot online.

• Use Google Street View to walk around virtually.
• Read reviews from people who live there.
• Check how clean and safe the area looks.
• Ensure it's not too far from your workplace, study, or shop.

Read reviews online

Check what other people say about the apartment.

• Look at Google Reviews and Facebook.
• Pay attention to both good and bad comments.
• Look for red flags like bad landlords or dirty spaces.

Ask for a short-term lease

If you're not sure, ask if you can sign a short lease first. This way, you can leave sooner if you don’t like it. If it turns out great, you can always stay longer.

Make sure the lease is clear

Before signing, make sure the lease (the rental contract) says exactly what you were promised.

Check that it includes:

• Number of bedrooms
• If it has a balcony or new carpet
• Special things the landlord said (like fresh paint or granite counters).

The more details in the lease, the safer you are.

Do a Walk-Through on Move-In Day

When you finally arrive, walk through the apartment carefully.

Look for:

• Water damage
• Broken locks or windows
• Missing things that were promised.

Take pictures or videos and make a list of problems. Have the landlord sign it. This protects you.

If you can visit the apartment in person, you will know immediately whether it suits you or not, but if you cannot go in person, there are many other ways to check if the apartment is in good condition.

Conclusion

Before you decide to live in a new apartment, it's important to see it first. If you can’t go in person, you can ask for a video call or have someone you trust look at it for you. Seeing the apartment helps you know if it’s nice and if you like it. Also, don’t forget about renters' insurance. If something bad happens, like someone stealing your stuff or a big mess from a storm, the insurance helps you.