The Rental World Cup

The world cup is upon us, drawing people from all across the globe to circle around the closest television set and sit in soccer-induced trances for hours at a time, every once in a while letting out a cry of either elation or outrage. In terms of houses, apartments and condos, this means that the most important room in the house is about to change to whichever one t.v. is in. Luckily, here at the Hometown Rant, we’ve got the guide to help you maximize the futbol-ficiency of your rental property.

Landlords have less to do in this regard than renters, but there still are ways to take advantage of the global phenomenon, as well as to protect yourself from issues surrounding it. If you’re currently trying to rent out a property, figure out which room would be the best for watching sports, and use it as a selling point for potential renters, especially if you see them sporting paraphernalia of their favorite team.

It’s also a good time to make sure that your rental property is equipped to easily receive high speed internet and television, since if it isn’t, now’s the time of year that you’ll probably be hearing complaints. This is mostly an issue in older houses or apartment buildings, so be aware if that’s the type of property you own.

Renters, you’re the ones who’re going to be setting up the space and watching the games there, so you’ll have the most to do. It may sound like a lot of work, but don’t you want to put your heart on the line and bear your soul for your team without all the grizzly old regulars at the sports bar giving you weird looks because the only sport they acknowledge is baseball? Trust us, if you’re going to scream at a television, it should be your television in your house.

Most people these days own some kind of television, but if you don’t, or if you’ve been considering upgrading, now might be the time. In the age of 60+ inch 3D monstrosities, conventionally sized TVs are cheaper than ever, and more than adequate for all your viewing needs. Do you really need to see every pore and bead of sweat on Michael Bradley’s head popping out of the screen at you? Probably not.

If you’re planning on hosting people for the games, you’ll also want to make sure you have adequate seating. Seven layer dips and people sitting on the floor is a recipe for disaster. Trust us. You probably already have some couches, but if you need extra furniture, maybe consider getting some fold-up camping chairs for the friends of friends who’ll invariably show up unannounced.

The last thing you’ll need is either cable or the internet so you can actually get the games at home. Cable is probably the easiest way to go, but check with your Cable provider to make sure you get the proper channels. The other way is streaming via the internet, which can be cheaper, but also sketchier. ESPN provides legitimate streams for people with certain internet packages, and there are also a myriad of websites offering free streams if you can slog your way through the minefield of advertisements. Just remember, if it sound too good to be true, it is. Don’t click on it.

And hey, even if your team is already eliminated, never fear, it’s never too early to start planning your setup for Russia 2018, though you might want to wait a little bit for Qatar 2022.

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