Whether you're embarking on your first rental or considering where to lease next, following a few simple steps will help you "rent smarter".

The January/February 2008 HomeEconomiser, published by Steve and Annette Economides, cites nine tips from radio host and consumer advocate Clark Howard:

1. Do your homework. Before shelling out for an application fee to rent an apartment, condominium, townhouse, or detached home, be sure you're clear about the monthly rent, duration of the lease, and terms of any deposit.

2. Get a handle on utilities. Be sure to confirm with the landlord or management company what you can expect to pay for utilities and those for which you'll be responsible. For example, some rental complexes pay for gas heat but require tenants to pay for electricity and water. You might be responsible for all three.

3. Don't sign the lease too quickly. You need at least a day to review the terms and conditions. It's a good idea to ask a friend to look over the document as well. You should feel comfortable enough with the potential rental to raise questions and request changes whenever you disagree with the proposed terms.

4. Go after an early-out clause. In my area, unless a family member is in the military, these are pretty hard to negotiate. You are asking for the right to terminate the lease before its stated expiration date if your circumstances change. Examples include relocating for a spouse's job or being laid off from your own.

5. Check on automatic renewal. You'll want to know at the outset whether the proposed lease automatically renews at the end of the stated term.

6. Show up for the walk-through inspection. Be sure to note anything and everything that's wrong with the unit. You should plan attend the move-out inspection as well.

7. Recover your security deposit. Sometimes a landlord fails to return your deposit or is extremely tardy in doing so. The terms of your lease and local laws govern how long the property owner or manager has to return the what you paid up front. If you don't receive it in a timely manner, consider suing in small claims court.

8. Think twice about renting from a private owner. You might get a better deal than what's available from a large complex. However, you're always at risk of a private owner selling the property and leaving you without an opportunity to renew your lease. If the owner goes through foreclosure, you could be out on the street much sooner than you planned.

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