You have found your dream home.  As others mill around during the open house, you know you have to have the place at any cost!  This has probably happened to all of us at some point or another, but before blindly signing the contract your landlord-to-be hands you, consider asking the following questions.  If you find out all necessary information now, you can save yourself a lot of headaches later.

- Why did the last tenant leave?  By asking what happened to the last tenant, you may get an idea what your prospective landlord is really like.  If the tenant left amicably, this is probably a good sign.  That being said, you still have to make a judgment call - even if the landlord-tenant relationship disintegrated ending in the tenant's departure, this isn't necessarily the landlord's fault.  It's just a good idea to get an idea of your landlord's nature before renting, to avoid any potential conflicts.

- Why / for how long are you planning to rent out the unit?  If you're renting in a building owned by an apartment rental corporation, then the answer is probably 'as far into the future as is possible, and to make money'.  While every landlord is in the rental business to make money, their motivations differ greatly.  Some landlords may be looking to make some money in the short term, or eventually plan to take over the unit for themselves.  If this is the case, you'll need to know how long they plan to rent out the unit.  Some may be stuck in unforeseen circumstances and need to rent the place out quickly, with no idea of how long they want to rent.  Make sure that the landlord's needs are similar to yours in terms of how long you'll be staying.

- Are there any discounts?  You may not want to pop that question so bluntly.  However, there are many landlords who are looking for a specific tenant, or a specific set of terms (such as a one-year lease).  If you agree to their terms, they may be willing to offer you a small discount as a token of appreciation.  Make sure that any special terms you agree to are legal, and that you completely understand them.

Ultimately, ask as many questions as you need to.  Stop learning about the unit, the landlord and the terms they want when you have a clear understanding of everything.  Although the unit you are looking at may be the home of your dreams, it is easy for a sour tenant-landlord relationship to ruin it completely.  If you find a landlord whose rental goals fit yours, you will be most likely to enjoy your stay.