If you're in the market for a rental home, you need to be ready for the process. Renting a home involves more than price and neighborhood. After all, you'll be signing a contract to live in this home, which means you want to make sure that everything is in order before you sign. To help you avoid problems, here are four steps you need to take while you're searching for the right home to rent.

Check for Signs of Pests

When it comes to choosing a home to rent, you want to make sure that the home you choose doesn't come with any hidden tenants — pests. Unfortunately, you can't always identify pest problems by looking at the surface of a home. To make sure you're not going to face existing pest problems, look beneath the surface. During your tour, take the time to look inside cabinets, closets, and drawers. You'll also want to look on all of the window sills. If you see signs of active pest problems, request a pesticide treatment prior to moving in.

Ask About Maintenance Availability

If you're going to be renting a home, you'll want to ask about the maintenance availability. While maintenance services are usually provided for apartment rentals, that's not always the case with rental homes. Some property owners require that the tenants of their rental homes take care of their own repairs and maintenance. To make sure you're not caught off-guard when something breaks in your rental home, make sure you understand the maintenance details upfront.

Know the Pet Restrictions

Now that you're looking to rent a home, make sure you know the pet restrictions — even if you don't have a pet right now. Most landlords have specific restrictions regarding pets, such as size and breeds that are allowed. If you currently have a pet, you'll need to make sure that you'll be able to bring them with you. If you plan to get a pet later, make sure you understand the restrictions so that you don't choose a pet that's not allowed.

Understand the Lease Release Clauses

If the home you choose comes with a lease, rather than a month-to-month tenancy agreement, make sure you understand the lease release clauses. Most leases provide lease release clauses that allow tenants to break their current lease under certain conditions. These include a break clause and a release clause. With a break clause, there's a specific time frame when the lease can be broken. With a release clause, there are specific requirements that must be met before a lease can be broken.

If you're in the market for a rental home, use the information provided here to help you avoid problems along the way. For questions or concerns about the rental process, talk to a real estate rental agent or a company like ABA Rental Properties Inc near you.