Is Renting Things for Your Home a Good Idea in Australia Is Renting Things for Your Home a Good Idea in Aus | 页面 3

reimbursed. Finally, some rent-to-own agreements are worded so that you are contractually obligated
to purchase the home at the end of the lease. It’s extremely important that you know exactly what you
are signing if you enter into one of these agreements so that you are not stuck with a contract you
cannot fulfill.
The Pitfalls
It turns out that many tenants who enter into rent-to-own agreements end up unable to buy the house
at the end of their lease for the same reason they were unable to buy before: they still don’t have the
credit rating, the income, or a large enough down payment. At that point, the seller walks away with a
great deal of extra cash toward his mortgage and the tenant ends up with nothing. If you are interested
in a rent-to-own agreement, it would make sense to talk to a bank about financing before you sign any
papers with the seller. Ultimately, however, these agreements are not the healthiest financial path to
home ownership.
4.0 7 Things to Do Before You Move Into a New House
1. Change the locks on the exterior doors. As soon as the closing is over and you've gotten the keys to
your house, either buy and install new lock sets or have a locksmith come to the house to switch them
out. Let's face it, the previous owners, Realtors, maintenance folks and who knows who else are all likely
to have keys to your place. For some peace of mind and as a necessary step in making this house yours,
get new locks installed immediately.
2. Get the house cleaned up. While many folks will leave the house clean for you, some won't. Even if
they do, you'll want to clean everything for yourself. You can hire a service to do this, something I
heartily recommend if time is tight, or you can do it yourself. If you do it yourself, set up an area with all