Before They Sign
Protect your student, your money, and your name on the lease. A calm, five-phase system for the week your student finds an apartment and the guaranty lands in your inbox.
47-page PDF · 7 copy-and-send scripts · 12 printable worksheets · 30-day guarantee
Know exactly what you’re signing, and what you’re signing up for.
Most parents get a few days and a PDF. This guide gives you a repeatable way to make the call, with the numbers, the risks and the paper trail laid out in front of you.
- Spot rental scams before any money changes hands.
- Find the true monthly cost. Rent plus every utility, fee and service, with a worked example.
- Understand your guaranty. Whose rent you cover, for how much, and for how long.
- Walk the property room by room, including fire safety, locks and the route home at night.
- Make a clear decision with the Property Scorecard: Proceed, Investigate, or Walk away.
- Protect the deposit from day one with a move-in condition report.
Real pages from the guide
Five phases, in the order you’ll need them
Vet the property & landlord
The first look, the landlord test, and lease basics to confirm early.
Know the real cost
True monthly cost, upfront cash, hidden costs and a family stress test.
Your risk as co-signer
What a guaranty can mean, roommate liability, and what happens if rent isn’t paid.
The walkthrough
Fire safety, locks, personal safety, water, electrical, heat and appliances.
Decide, sign & protect
The scorecard, reading the lease, getting promises in writing, and the first 30 days.
7 scripts + 12 worksheets
Emails to the landlord, a family housing agreement, and printable worksheets for every phase.
This guide is for you if
- Your student is signing their first off-campus lease
- You’ve been asked to co-sign or be a guarantor
- You can’t easily visit the apartment in person
- You want a clear yes or no, not a pile of opinions
It isn’t
- Legal advice for your state (we tell you when to call a pro)
- A home inspection or safety certification
- A list of apartments in your student’s city
30-day money-back guarantee
If the guide doesn’t help you make a clearer decision, email us within 30 days for a full refund.