Too often, when college students move into their off-campus residences for the first time, they don’t consider negotiating. However, when you do negotiate the price with your landlord, it gives you so much room to either save money or get extra amenities you wouldn’t otherwise be able to acquire. The trick is to let them know that you know you have the ability to negotiate a discount. Many landlords or homeowners association managements in San Diego will not bring up the fact that you can bring down rent price, but there is no harm in trying, and asking the question will only make you better off, not worse. Now here is how you can try and divert some of your rent money to other areas of your life:
Be reasonable
There is no quicker way to lose your chance at decreasing your rent than going overboard. Asking for a ten percent cut might be reasonable, but make sure you’re never asking your landlord if you can pay only half of the initial proposed price. Take a look at the price listings around your area and find out what the average price is for something you’re looking for. Every residence is different and when bargaining you should also take into account the amenities provided, security measures, maintenance of appliances, and other factors. This is a good idea to make sure you’re never paying more than you should, and also knowing where to draw the line when trying to haggle.
Think outside the box
If you’re not the type of person who likes discussing finances, maybe try a different approach. Instead of asking for a lower monthly rent, perhaps you can ask for more amenities to be provided for you. Maybe you want the kitchen upgraded, or a bigger mattress. If your landlord won’t cave in on the rent side of the discussion, you can still get other things out of your bargaining efforts. This will make up for the rent in some way.
Sign a longer lease
If it works with your plans for the future, consider signing a longer lease. There are few things landlords hate more than having a vacant unit. No matter the price they charge, they still need to pay taxes for their property, so they would always rather have less profit than none at all. In most cases, you will have much more luck asking for a lower price when they have the security of knowing that they won’t have to stress over looking for a new tenant anymore. This works especially well for you if you like the place you’re renting already because you get to stay longer in it and you don’t have to keep looking for new places to live.