What happens if you start looking for a rental 2 months ahead and find a perfect home? Most likely landlord will ask you to start the lease in 2 to 4 weeks.

From my past experience, here are two possible outcomes:

1. You agree to the landlord's request by moving in earlier than what you need to.

2. You decline landlord's offer and decided to look for a house at a later time.

Either way, you might end up wasting your money or wasting your time. Therefore, the most ideal time to start looking for a rental is about 30-day prior to your actual moving date.