Apartment hunting can be tricky and to make matters a bit more difficult, not every city is the same. If you’re planning a move to a major metro area like San Francisco, New York, or Chicago, you may be wondering, ‘do I need a realtor to find an apartment?’ And in most cases, yes, you will need one. But what about other locations across the U.S.? You’ll be surprised to learn that no matter where you’re choosing to go, hiring a realtor help you find a home can take much of the stress and time out of apartment hunting. Read on to learn about the benefits of hiring a realtor and more.
Do I need a realtor?
You may have found your current home on your own, which has left you wondering if you really need a professional to assist you in find your next apartment to rent. While plenty of resources are available to help find your next place, a professional can make it a smoother process.
6 Reasons to Use a Realtor
Wondering if you need a realtor to find an apartment? It’s time to weigh your options and consider what benefits they may bring to the table.
1. Access to Exclusive Listings.
Whether month-to-month or long-term, realtors have access to extensive listings that may not be publicly available or are difficult to find on your own.
2. Finding Accommodations.
Realtors can help with specific cases, such as finding a pet-friendly, wheelchair-accessible, or furnished apartment.
3. You’re Facing a Competitive Market.
The rental market has become more competitive than ever, and a realtor can give you an edge to stay ahead of other renters when looking at highly desirable rental properties.
4. Logistics: Negotiations, Contracts & More
Realtors can work with the property management company to negotiate the lease and paperwork on your behalf.
5. Your Credit Score is Less than Optimal.
Realtors can help you navigate confusing paperwork, credit score checks, income requirements, and pay the security deposit.
6. Save time.
Looking for a new place to live can be exhausting and time-consuming, especially when manually sorting through hundreds of irrelevant rental listings that don’t meet your criteria. A real estate agent can take much of the work out of it by sorting through listings for you and narrowing options to the ones that fit your needs the best.
Is Using a Realtor to Find an Apartment Right for You?
Using the services of a real estate agent isn’t necessarily the best for everyone. Concerns such as fees, the local rental market, and simple desire can be great reasons to head up your own apartment search.
Are You Prepared to Pay a Finder’s Fee?
You may be worried about fees. Sometimes, the realtors have been hired by the property managers, and you will not pay a fee. In other cases, you may pay a broker fee to the realtor when you sign a lease based on the monthly rent amount. It’s important to consider whether or not their fees fit into your budget or are worth the other benefits of hiring a professional.
Are You Interested in Renting a Privately Owned or Managed Property?
Another reason a realtor may not be a good fit is that you’re mostly looking at privately owned and managed properties. In some areas, professionally managed properties are not common. You may be primarily viewing houses where the landlord handles all of the rental business personally or fellow lessees are subletting rooms. In these instances, a realtor may not be as helpful.
Do You Want to Work With a Realtor?
Finally, you may just not want one. Maybe you enjoy looking through listings, or you have a concrete idea of where you want to live and can navigate the application process on your own!
You Want to Use a Realtor. Now What?
So you’ve decided to use a realtor to look for your next apartment. What next? There are a few things that you should consider first to make the best use of their services.
It’s helpful to come up with a list of must-haves for you. You can give this list to your realtor so that they can help you narrow down places that may be a good fit for you and your family!
Questions to consider first:
- Where do you want to live? Consider if you are looking in a particular neighborhood, or are open to several suburbs. How long do you want to commute, and do you need public transportation or a particular school zone?
- How much do you want to spend? Consider your monthly expenses and come up with a range that’s comfortable for you. Don’t forget to account for additional costs such as security deposit.
- Furnished or not? Finding a furnished apartment can be convenient, but it doesn’t leave you with much stylistic choice. CORT Furniture Rental allows you to furnish your home with your style, without the stress of moving or purchasing furniture.
- What features do you need or want? Some to think about are pet friendliness, wheelchair accessibility, parking, and laundry options.
How to Find a Realtor to Rent
The internet is a great place to start! You can find local agents or agents in the area that you’re trying to move.. Look specifically for agents who list that they offer rental services, as not all agents will. You may even find agents in your area who specialize in renting! Word of mouth is also a great way to find a rental agent. Ask friends and family to see if they have worked with a real estate agent they recommend.
Furnish Your New Apartment With CORT Furniture Rental
After you and your realtor find the perfect apartment for your move, consider renting furniture from CORT to furnish your place temporarily. Moving to a new apartment is time-consuming and difficult — especially if you have very little help. Forget lugging old furniture into your new place and simply rent stylish furniture from CORT until you’re ready to invest in pieces you’ll keep forever. CORT’s 3D technology makes it easy to look at furniture from every angle, and you can even use our AR technology to envision furniture in your space! Start creating the perfect furniture rental package for your new apartment online or in-store today!
