https://www.bunklow.com/tips Short tips for renters, roommates and owners. Tools at bunklow.com en-us https://www.bunklow.com/tips/adding-a-roommate-get-approval-first https://www.bunklow.com/tips/adding-a-roommate-get-approval-first Most leases require landlord approval before anyone new moves in, and new roommates usually have to qualify like any applicant. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/build-a-one-page-rental-resume https://www.bunklow.com/tips/build-a-one-page-rental-resume A one-page rental resume answers a landlord's screening questions before they ask. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/call-the-landlord-before-the-current-one https://www.bunklow.com/tips/call-the-landlord-before-the-current-one A current landlord may give a glowing reference just to speed a move-out, while the previous landlord has no reason to shade the truth. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/cold-snap-coming-do-this-before-bed https://www.bunklow.com/tips/cold-snap-coming-do-this-before-bed Western Washington and Oregon don't freeze hard often, which is exactly why pipes get caught off guard. Free to read and share. Plain steps you can use today. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/count-the-keys-on-move-in-day https://www.bunklow.com/tips/count-the-keys-on-move-in-day List every key, fob, garage remote and mailbox key you receive, and have you and your landlord both sign the list. Free to read and share. Free on Bunklow. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/decide-now-who-gets-the-deposit-back https://www.bunklow.com/tips/decide-now-who-gets-the-deposit-back Before move-in, every roommate signs a deposit form that picks one of three options: one refund check made out to all roommates together, a split by shares. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/everyone-18-applies-heres-why https://www.bunklow.com/tips/everyone-18-applies-heres-why Screen every occupant who is 18 or older, not just the person with the biggest paycheck. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/give-your-old-landlord-a-heads-up https://www.bunklow.com/tips/give-your-old-landlord-a-heads-up Many landlords call past landlords personally, so text yours first so they expect the call. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/hand-out-the-move-out-checklist-early https://www.bunklow.com/tips/hand-out-the-move-out-checklist-early Renters can't meet expectations they don't know about. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/heavy-rain-check-downspouts-and-grading https://www.bunklow.com/tips/heavy-rain-check-downspouts-and-grading The best time to spot drainage problems is while it's raining. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/leaving-a-shared-lease-early https://www.bunklow.com/tips/leaving-a-shared-lease-early Moving out does not automatically remove your name from a shared lease. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/move-out-day-starts-a-deposit-clock https://www.bunklow.com/tips/move-out-day-starts-a-deposit-clock For an owner, move-out day should start a clear deposit-workflow checklist. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/move-out-photos-landlord-best-practices https://www.bunklow.com/tips/move-out-photos-landlord-best-practices Photograph each room in the same order and from the same angles as your move-in photos, with wide shots plus close-ups of any damage. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/no-heat-check-these-4-things-first https://www.bunklow.com/tips/no-heat-check-these-4-things-first Before reporting a no-heat problem, check whether the thermostat is set to heat, a breaker has tripped, the furnace panel is closed, and the filter is overdue. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/one-lease-one-rent-everyones-on-the-hook https://www.bunklow.com/tips/one-lease-one-rent-everyones-on-the-hook On most shared leases, the landlord sees one total rent, and a short payment can mean a late fee for the whole unit. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/partner-staying-over-a-lot-check-the-guest-limit https://www.bunklow.com/tips/partner-staying-over-a-lot-check-the-guest-limit Occasional guests are normal, but a regular overnight guest can affect rent, utilities, wear and tear and your roommates. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/photo-privacy https://www.bunklow.com/tips/photo-privacy Your listing photos can show more than you mean. A free Bunklow tip on photo privacy. Affordable living. Simplified https://www.bunklow.com/tips/photograph-everything-on-move-in-day https://www.bunklow.com/tips/photograph-everything-on-move-in-day Move-in photos taken before your furniture arrives are the clearest record of the home's condition. Free to read and share. Plain steps you can use today. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/pnw-landlords-gutters-and-moss-are-your-fall-job https://www.bunklow.com/tips/pnw-landlords-gutters-and-moss-are-your-fall-job Pacific Northwest rain makes gutters, downspouts and roof moss part of every fall property check. Free to read and share. Plain steps you can use today. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/questions-to-ask-a-potential-roommate https://www.bunklow.com/tips/questions-to-ask-a-potential-roommate Ask practical questions before choosing a roommate: how bills get paid, what clean means, how guests work, and when the home gets quiet. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/rent-is-heavy-right-now https://www.bunklow.com/tips/rent-is-heavy-right-now Rent is heavy right now, and we know it. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. Free to read and share. Plain steps you can use today. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/renting-to-roommate-groups-owner-tips https://www.bunklow.com/tips/renting-to-roommate-groups-owner-tips Put every adult occupant on the lease and screen each one with the same criteria. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/run-the-bath-fan-longer https://www.bunklow.com/tips/run-the-bath-fan-longer Bathrooms make a lot of moisture, especially during a damp Northwest winter. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/screening-is-the-most-important-detail https://www.bunklow.com/tips/screening-is-the-most-important-detail Good rental operations start with a written screening process, not a gut feeling. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/split-chores-by-zone-not-by-guilt https://www.bunklow.com/tips/split-chores-by-zone-not-by-guilt Vague cleaning rules create roommate resentment and leave deposit-sensitive work until the last minute. Free to read and share. Plain steps you can use today. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/start-marketing-the-day-you-get-notice https://www.bunklow.com/tips/start-marketing-the-day-you-get-notice When a renter gives written notice, start the next leasing checklist right away. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/the-3-spots-that-eat-your-deposit https://www.bunklow.com/tips/the-3-spots-that-eat-your-deposit Move-out inspections tend to find the same kitchen spots again and again. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. Free on Bunklow. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/verify-the-landlord-before-you-pay https://www.bunklow.com/tips/verify-the-landlord-before-you-pay Scammers sometimes pose as landlords using real owners' names. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. Free to read and share. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/vet-a-roommate-like-a-landlord-would https://www.bunklow.com/tips/vet-a-roommate-like-a-landlord-would You're about to share rent, a kitchen and a lease, so check the same basics a landlord would. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/wet-windows-every-morning-wipe-them https://www.bunklow.com/tips/wet-windows-every-morning-wipe-them Foggy, dripping windows mean warm, damp indoor air is hitting cold glass, a common sight in a Northwest winter. Free to read and share. Free on Bunklow. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/wildfire-smoke-days-protect-the-air-inside https://www.bunklow.com/tips/wildfire-smoke-days-protect-the-air-inside Late summer in the Northwest can bring smoky days. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners. Free to read and share. Free on Bunklow. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/winterize-your-rental-before-the-first-freeze https://www.bunklow.com/tips/winterize-your-rental-before-the-first-freeze Freeze damage is expensive and preventable. Each fall, insulate exposed pipes, cover outdoor faucets, clean gutters and service the heating system. https://www.bunklow.com/tips/write-a-roommate-agreement-before-you-sign https://www.bunklow.com/tips/write-a-roommate-agreement-before-you-sign The lease covers you and the landlord; a roommate agreement covers you and each other. A short, friendly Bunklow tip for renters, roommates and owners.