Like most industries, the rental industry has its flaws. You probably experienced some of them yourself while spending time searching for rentals, which requires many hours more than it should. However, you might not be privy to all of the flaws of the rental industry that we listed below.
So, why does apartment hunting take so long? We’ll answer a few questions about that below (questions you’ve probably already asked yourself).
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Related: 6 Reasons To Avoid Chicago Rental Brokers
Why Are There SO MANY Listings?
Up to 50% of rental listings are expired…
That’s right; up to 50% of rental listings are expired and advertise unavailable units, whether because landlords and building managers take their time to remove them, or flat out forget. However, sometimes those apartments stay up on purpose because many listings online are fake, posted in order to collect data, capture your phone number, or steer you towards a less desirable property. This reality makes sorting through them all to find legitimate postings extra difficult.
Why Is Staff So Hard to Reach?
Leasing agents and front desk staff work busy schedules and can’t always answer the phone, especially when helping a current tenant or touring with a potential one. Often, their answering system will connect you to off-site staff who might not have accurate information and can’t answer your specific questions. Scheduling tours can become a real challenge when you can’t get a hold of the building.
Is This Even the Same Apartment?
Sure, it’s a photo of an apartment. But, is it this apartment? Pictures are incredibly hard to trust on listing websites since the unit you actually see frequently does not match the unit in the picture. That’s why in-person and virtual tours matter so much.
How Am I Supposed to Know Which Neighborhood to Live In?
If you aren’t familiar with the city, choosing a neighborhood becomes a shot in the dark. You might as well throw a dart at the map.
Luckily, these days, many companies publish neighborhood guides to direct you to the best neighborhood options. If you enlist the assistance of a local apartment locator, they can help too because they’ll know the neighborhoods and the apartment buildings in them better than just about anyone. They spend their days searching and touring their home city with clients and will eagerly offer their advice based on this expertise.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
You can’t always predict what unexpected problems will arise after move-in until it’s far too late (paper-thin walls, sirens, bad water pressure, and scattered management, to name a few). There are few things worse than hating your apartment, and being forced to wait another 10 months until your lease ends. However, you can increase your chances of landing in an apartment you love by simple relying on the help of experts in the rental industry.
How Do Real Estate Professionals Find an Apartment?
Industry professionals never use search sites. They’re unreliable, filled with scams, and quite simply not a good way to find an apartment. So, how do industry insiders find an apartment? Well, they usually know which one they want based on word-of-mouth and recommendations. But, the problem is that when most people move, especially to a new city, they don’t know anyone who can offer informed recommendations.
AptAmigo’s aspires to overcome these issues. We act as a friend in the process, and we think everyone deserves to love where they live. Since 2015 we’ve placed thousands of people in their dream homes and perfected the apartment search process. We’ve seen it all, done it all, and come out on the other side eager to help people find their next home with absolutely zero stress.
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* The original version of this article was first published on March 8, 2019.
