How should I prepare for viewing a potential home?

Are you renting? If so, yes I would dress nicely. Perhaps take along letters/references from people you have rented from just in case you need them. Even employers or those who can vouch for your good character. Here you would have to fill in application forms if you wanted to rent and there is certain paperwork you would need to produce. Identification etc. So perhaps have a file of all those important documents ready to go,

Not sure I would mention you are musicians. Here, there is so much competition for rental properties you wouldn’t want to say anything that would lessen your chances of being successful.

I would make a list of things you want in a home too (especially if there are lots of properties available and you can be a bit choosy). How many bedrooms, gas or electric cooking, fly screens etc.. What are things you really want in a home. Transport, heating methods. Take your phone in case you want to take some photos. Take a measuring tape so you can measure rooms to see if your furniture fits. Take the measurements of key pieces you need to fit in too.

Yes I am renting. Measuring tape sounds like a great idea. I wouldn’t have thought of that! I have a list of things I need and things I want that I will take. Thank you!

Take along proof of income. Take a camera. If you are musicians, I would mention it. Ask about the ratio of owner occupied housing and rentals in the immediate area. If the house is the only rental in a sea of owner occupied houses, then renting to musicians may be more problematic than in an area of a lot of rental property.

I always inquire about any potential zoning changes or any planned developments in the immediate area. If you have kids or planning to have kids, info on the schools is a must.

Oh that’s a good idea. It’s in a town where a lot of sewer work is being done, so that’s an excellent question to ask!

I think we discussed the music issue before- that was you, right? :>)

In addition to the above- if you are looking at a house, especially in CA, you need to see proof that the mortgage is being paid. Lots of renters lose their homes here when the owner defaults on the mortgage and the house goes into foreclosure.

Once you have measurements, you can plot out floorplans for furnishings using graph-paper.

Also, to help with the noise levels (since you are Musicians,and renting) area rugs, wall tapestries,and heavy material for curtains will absorb some of the noise and cut down on any unwanted “echo” effect.

(drop-cloth canvas is inexpensive & works well, AND you can paint it however you like) :)