Cody Day
While most people use a real estate agent when looking for a home to buy, apartment hunters are more likely to "go it alone" without an agent. And it's completely possible to find and rent a good apartment without an agent's assistance; most landlords are used to dealing directly with prospective tenants. However, there are some real benefits to asking a real estate agent to help with your apartment search. Take a look.
You don't have to do so much calling around
When you're looking for an apartment, it can feel like you're spending all day on the phone and sending emails. Especially in a high-demand rental area, you may contact 10 landlords about 10 different apartments, but only hear back about one or two of them. When you hire a real estate agent, on the other hand, they can do a lot of this calling around for you. They'll call about any apartments they think you might be interested in, and only get in touch with you after contact has actually been made and it's been confirmed that the apartment is available.
The agent may know about apartments that are not listed
Some landlords do not make their apartment listings available to the general public. They only list their rentals on the MLS, which means real estate agents may find them more easily than you can. Working with an agent will therefore give you access to apartments you would not otherwise have the option to renting.
You'll be sure to pay fair market value
It can be tough to know what an apartment should actually be renting for. There are so many factors to consider, from location, to amenities, to square footage. When you apartment hunt on your own, it's easy to end up over-paying. But when you work with an agent, they will have more awareness of the market and prices in the area, and they can make sure you get a fair price for rent.
You'll have someone to review the lease and make sure everything is fair
In a perfect world, you would have a lawyer look over the lease before you sign it. But this can be costly, and most renters don't bother to do it. When you work with an agent, they can at least look over the lease and let you know if there are any red flags you should discuss with the landlord or ask to be changed. Their opinion is not quite as valuable as that of a real estate lawyer, but it's more informed than the average renter's opinion.
Most real estate agents are happy to help renters find places to live. Reach out to a real estate agent in your area to take advantage of this helpful service.
This website can serve as your home for information about real estate. Here, you will find articles about the buying process and others on the selling process. We've also included content related to getting a mortgage, finding a real estate agent, and scheduling an inspection. We hope that by addressing all aspects of the real estate world, we will make you better prepared to handle any real estate transactions that might be in your future. After all, real estate can be a really smart investment, but only if you buy the right home and know how much to offer. Start reading, and enjoy what you find.