Lyn Loheed, who has been a landlord in Des Moines for 30 years, shares advice and expectations for young tenants.

So you’re looking for an apartment: you’re young, maybe just out of college or still in school and ready to move out of the dorms. Here are a few things the landlords of the world want you to know.

1. Read the ad

All the information you need to know will be posted in the ad. Craigslist is a really great place to start your search. We’re not paying by the word, so if it’s important information, it will be in there. Print out the ad so that when I call you back, you can link up to which apartment we’re talking about. I know you’re looking at several different places. It’s cool to ask me which one is mine. Make notes on the printout as you check them out so you can remember which one you like the best. 

2. Keep your appointments

If you make an appointment to see the apartment, keep it. If you can’t make it, call and cancel or reschedule. I will appreciate the courtesy.

3. Don’t bring your mother with you to look at an apartment

You’re either old enough or responsible enough to find your own apartment, or you’re not.  

4. No pets means no pets 

You’re young and just starting out. Finding a place you can afford that will take a pet can be very problematic. I know you’d love to have something to snuggle, but wait until you’re actually making some money and are more settled in your career or are starting a family.

5. Don’t smoke

Many apartments these days are going smoke-free. Many won’t even let you smoke outside and if they do, only in a designated area. That ban on smoking includes the inside of your apartment.

6. Pay your rent and communicate

It is your responsibility to get the rent to me on time.

If the rent is due on the first of the month, which may be a Wednesday, I understand if you don’t get paid until Friday. As long as you let me know you’ll drop off a check on Friday, I’ll be fine with that. Technically, your rent isn’t late until day three anyway. I can work with you within reason.  

7. I can enter your apartment

With a 24-hour notice — these days usually delivered via a text message — your landlord can go in and inspect your apartment. It is usually to fix something, check on something, change out the batteries in the smoke detector or bring the housing inspector through for a rental inspection. If there is an imminent threat to the property, like a gas leak, smoke or water dripping into the apartment below, I will be entering your property without notice.

8. Sign a lease

A lease for the property spells out the terms of the deal. It protects both parties. If your lease is for a year, your landlord cannot raise your rent during that time, and as long as you pay the rent and abide by the other terms of the lease, you cannot be evicted.

It spells out who pays for what utilities and all the rules of use of the property. If you’re not sure you will be around for a year, many landlords will sign a lease for six months. When your lease expires, you can either sign another lease, or go on a month-to-month basis if your lease has a provision for that.

That means that with a 30-day notice, you can leave the apartment with no penalty or your landlord can ask you to vacate the property once he has served a 30-day notice to you.

9. Get renter’s insurance  

Many landlords require tenants to carry renters insurance with a certain required deductible, say about $250.

If you cannot get renter’s insurance, it is a red flag to a potential landlord who says you have screwed up your credit or your life along the way and are too big of a risk even for an insurance company.

Your renter’s insurance will also cover damages to the building. For example, burning food on the stove and damaging part of the kitchen.

10. Leave your apartment clean

Your version of clean may be different than my version. My version wins. I have your deposit.

Your lease should spell out what the landlord will charge you for when you leave. I keep a standard amount to have the carpeting professionally cleaned between each tenant, for instance. Read your lease and understand the terms, so you’re not surprised when you move out.

11. Become your own landlord

If you’re in college, you may be required to live in the dorms for your first year on campus unless you’re living nearby with your parents.  Dorms are fun, but they can be expensive.  After that first year, your parents might want to consider buying a house or a condo for you to live in for the next few years.

Consider paying a down payment on a home or condo and find roommates and charge them rent.

That said, you would need to find responsible roommates who you know will pay on time and with whom you can get along.

If you do go this route, you could consider selling the establishment for a profit, but real estate markets can fluctuate and it is not guaranteed that you will be able to sell out at a profit in only three years. It is vital to have a Plan B. If it’s not a good time to sell, make sure there is a good property manager in town that will take care of the rental until the real estate market is better.

It’s in your best interest to be responsible. Also, everybody answers to somebody.  I answered to the bank, and if I let my property run down, believe me they would have taken steps. And finally, if you want to go this route, make sure you have a strong

enough personality so that you are running the show and can address and deal with problems as they arise and set and enforce house rules. If you can, it’s a great way to jump start your net worth.