Viva Property is a privately owned and operated Australian Real Estate business, providing property management services to a complete range of accommodation styles, from high-rise apartments to residential houses. Now we would like to provide eight handy tips that may assist you in finding your rental.
Location
A suitable location can be decided by what you want most in a location. You may want to live near a train station, or close to a highly reputable school, but sometimes you may need to sacrifice being close to one so you can get the other. You don’t want to regret your choice months down the track, so make sure you research what will be close by, before moving into a certain area. 
Inspect the property before moving in.
Always inspect your rental before moving in. Looking at photos online may make it seem like the perfect property to move into, but it could be a different story once you walk through the front door. We recommend visiting the area at different times of the week to get a real feel of what it is like to live there.
Questions, questions, questions
As they say, you don’t ask, you don’t know. Always ask questions about the property that you are seeking to live in. Questions such as why the previous renters moved out, or how much is the water bill, could decide whether you choose to make an offer on that rental property.
Move-in with housemates?
Moving in with other people may be a cheaper option, but it could be more difficult if you don’t get along with them in the long haul. Asking prospective roommates simple questions such as their working schedule or what they do on a weekend, could help define how you choose your new housemates or if it will be better for you to live by yourself.
Paperwork
Receiving and completing rental property paperwork can be overwhelming, but make sure you read everything carefully to know what you are signing off on. If you don’t understand your tenancy agreement, we recommend that you ask your property manager to help avoid any confusion or major difficulties during your tenancy. Another document you should receive will be a condition report, which states the condition of the property before you enter.
Take heaps of photos
Taking photos of your new rental to show people is one thing, but it's the little things that you need to take photos of. The broken light fixture or the stain on the wall, are the most important types of photos you need to take to prevent further issues down the track with the rental agents/landlords. For any rental, you must be provided with a condition report by the agent and this is where you can make the property manager and landlord aware of any pre-existing damage that is visible to you before you move into your new rental.
Your rights as a renter
Renting laws may have changed within your state recently and it is best to research those new laws, to better protect yourself as a renter. Within Victoria, those changes have included allowable modifications by renters and to the process for organising urgent repairs.
Try measure!
During your inspection, you may be able to try or measure the dimensions of various spaces within your future rental. Knowing that the shower head is at a suitable height (and has good pressure) or that your white goods can fit into the required spots, could make or break your decision to move in.
Viva Property has provided a few simple points to guide you to find a suitable rental, but now it is time for you to contact us. Please contact Andrew Pettman on 0407 886 318 or rentals@vivaproperty.com.au and he will be able to assist you with any further questions that you might have about renting within the Melbourne area.