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Lesson 3 of 6
Life · Guided lesson

Compare homes beyond the photos

Evaluate condition, location, access, safety, rules, and total cost with the same checklist for every option.

About 34 minutes Finish with a concrete deliverable
Khan AcademyThings to Consider When Renting a HomeYouTube
Course primer

Things to Consider When Renting a Home

From Khan Academy. Watch here or open it on YouTube .

During the course primer, listen for ideas that change how you approach “Compare homes beyond the photos.” Pause once to capture a useful point, then apply it while producing a scored three-home comparison with inspection notes, total monthly cost, commute, dealbreakers, and unanswered questions.
Before you begin

What this lesson is really solving.

Evaluate condition, location, access, safety, rules, and total cost with the same checklist for every option. This is lesson 3 because later decisions depend on a scored three-home comparison with inspection notes, total monthly cost, commute, dealbreakers, and unanswered questions. A consistent inspection converts a strong first impression into comparable evidence. Use your own numbers, files, environment, and constraints so the result survives outside the course.

Why this works

Understand the idea before touching the steps.

A consistent inspection converts a strong first impression into comparable evidence.

Do this

Follow these steps in order.

Take the action in each step; then use the deliverable below to prove the lesson is finished.

  1. 1

    Inspect water, locks, windows, alarms, outlets, appliances, heat or cooling, pests, noise, mobile signal, storage, and common areas without attempting repairs.

  2. 2

    Test the commute and nearby essentials at realistic times, and confirm accessibility or accommodation needs.

  3. 3

    Ask the same written questions about utilities, repairs, guests, pets, parking, laundry, renewals, fees, and move-in condition.

Worked example

See the standard in context.

Jordan chooses the slightly higher listed rent because included utilities and a shorter commute make its total cost lower. The learner saves a scored three-home comparison with inspection notes, total monthly cost, commute, dealbreakers, and unanswered questions and notes the evidence or assumption behind the choice so it can be reviewed and improved later.

Quality check

Inspect before you move on.

  • The finished work visibly includes a scored three-home comparison with inspection notes, total monthly cost, commute, dealbreakers, and unanswered questions.
  • You tested the work against this common failure: Letting staged photos or one attractive feature outweigh unresolved maintenance, access, cost, or lease concerns.
  • Another person could verify this mastery standard: The preferred home wins under written criteria and still works when its full cost and practical constraints are included.
Make it real

Your deliverable

A scored three-home comparison with inspection notes, total monthly cost, commute, dealbreakers, and unanswered questions.

Common mistake

Watch for this

Letting staged photos or one attractive feature outweigh unresolved maintenance, access, cost, or lease concerns.

You’re ready when

Prove it—don’t just recognize it.

The preferred home wins under written criteria and still works when its full cost and practical constraints are included.

Objective evidence · 3 questions

Quick knowledge check

Answer from the lesson—not from confidence alone. Score at least 2 of 3 to unlock completion.

Not yet passed

This curriculum-aligned check is scored automatically and stored with your account when signed in. It is an objective learning signal, but it has not yet been independently validated as a standardized assessment.

1Which action belongs in the recommended process for “Compare homes beyond the photos”?
2Which result is the clearest evidence that this lesson’s work is complete?
3Which choice matches the failure this lesson specifically warns against?
0 of 3 answeredEach question measures the action, evidence, or failure condition taught above.
Useful for this course

Tools, templates, and references

The Life Starter toolkitReusable planners and trackers for practical projects.
Check current detailsReferences reviewed September 9, 2026. Lesson exercises are editorial synthesis; official rules come from the linked sources.
USA.gov — Tenant rights and helpFederal Trade Commission — Rental listing scamsConsumer Financial Protection Bureau — Rental housing counseling
3
One check remains

Pass the knowledge check above first.

Completion unlocks after a score of 2 out of 3. Then confirm that you produced the lesson deliverable.

Go to the knowledge check