When Is It Best To Let A Real Estate Agent Find You An Apartment?
There are many different ways to go about looking for apartments for rent. Many people just browse apartment listings, call up a few landlords, view a few apartments, and start putting in applications. But another option is to let a real estate agent do the apartment hunting for you. The extra help can really make a difference. In what situations may you be best off relying on a real estate agent to find you an apartment? Here are the key ones.
When you're really busy.
Apartment hunting on your own takes a lot of time. In some markets, you may call about 10 apartments before you even find one that's still available! If you're really busy with work, your social life, and other obligations, it can be a lot easier to leave this work to a real estate agent. They can do the leg work and set up viewings. Then, all you need to is show up, spend 10 minutes walking through each apartment and put in an application for those you're interested in. The agent can even deliver the application for you!
When you're in a really competitive market.
Have you been calling about apartment after apartment, only to find they've already been leased out? Finding an apartment in a competitive market can be tough. Real estate agents often find out about apartments before they're put into the general listings. They may even have access to apartments that are never posted publicly. In a competitive market, such as that which exists in most big cities, hiring a real estate agent may be the only way to find an apartment in a reasonable time frame.
When you have really specific needs.
If you need something specific in an apartment, you won't come across as many listings that meet your needs. Maybe you need a wheelchair-accessible apartment, or perhaps you need one that has a private yard and allows large dogs. A real estate agent can spend time searching for apartments, narrowing them down so you only have to go look at ones that actually meet your needs. They can also help you snag these rare apartments before they disappear from the market.
Finding an apartment can be a bit of a challenge in some cases. If you are struggling to find an apartment for any reason at all, it can be worth hiring a real estate agent to help you out.