Here are several expert tips for would-be renters: (1) visit your base housing services office (HSO) so they can make sure they are going to sign a lease that is legal and contains a military clause; (2) never put any money down or sign anything with sight unseen; (3) be aware that pictures can be deceiving on the Internet; (4) drive by the property at night to see how it looks; (5) if a you begin to have difficulty negotiating with the landlord about deposits and damages, visit your HSO; (6) do not rush into a home. All Soldiers are authorized 10 nights of temporary lodging expense between each duty station to stay in a hotel while they find suitable housing; (7) immediately after moving into a rental home, make a very detailed checklist of everything that is wrong with the house and take date-stamped photographs.
For more financial tips for military families, visit the Military.com Money section.
