5 things that could inflate your rent before you even sign a lease

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Anyone who has ever paid rent knows the price can be steep.

And there are ways landlords can increase your rent before you even sign the lease.

"If a landlord finds that a renter might have something that could be potentially damaging to the property or a disturbance to the neighbors, they might be more likely to charge extra rent or a fee that a renter might have to pay upon taking a lease," Ralph McLaughlin, Trulia's chief economist, told Business Insider.

Since there are many factors that could raise your rent, McLaughlin suggests avoiding landlords who offer a range in their price - though the practice is usually only common when landlords are listing multiple units.

"Landlords who offer a range means that they have some discretion on what they advertised the place for, so they might offer a tenant the higher end of that," McLaughlin said. "It's better to find a landlord who is specific in the amount: no more, no less."

If your landlord does offer a range, here are five factors that could cost you more in rent: