Renting a house is not without risks, and to protect yourself and your hard earned money, you need to know a couple of things before you commit to renting a place. While price is of course the most obvious standard to follow when renting a place, it is not the only thing you should consider, as there are also a lot of other factors that you should include in your decision making process.   First is the kind of place that the apartment of home is located in. Is it in a good neighborhood? Is the place conveniently near your place of work? Where are the nearest hospitals and schools? You need to determine whether or not it will be a convenient location for you before you sign the agreement papers.   Another is the condition of the place you will be moving into. Does it need a lot of repairs? Are the utilities working properly? Are there any unpaid bills incurred by previous tenants that might suddenly fall into your lap to pay?   It is also much better if your landlord was part of a business organization and if you will be given a good deal which will appear on the contract you sign.