Community Chat

[missy1]

On 1/29/2015 Smaug said:

I don't think I know any realtors who deal with rentals.

They don't make much money out of it.

[m2p]

You said there is a small area you are interested in. You might try driving around and noting the homes for sale. You can contact the listing agent and see if the sellers are willing to rent. If the house has been on the market for a while it might be a win-win for both parties.

[catlvr]

Ford, you can't rely on realtors for this. Don't you have any newspaper/websites that handle rentals in your area? I have two rental properties. When they are available I advertise them and show them myself. I don't use a realtor. That would be an extra expense. I do insist on a $25 non refundable fee for a background check. That weeds out a lot of people. Look for listings that require the background check. They tend to be well kept properties. I'm so sending you beams of luck and energy!!!

[Kachina624]

On 1/29/2015 ivanatrump said:

Maybe it's a local thing but realtors in our area do little with rentals. Private home rentals are usually advertised in the local weekly newspaper or posted in workplaces, churches, stores. Anyone I know with rental properties act as their own agent as opposed to paying someone to show the properties.

Apartment complexes have their own rental offices.

I was going to say the same thing. Realtors here don't usually do rentals. People find them through word of mouth, newspaper ads, and signs out front or on grocery store bulletin boards. Small local weekly newspapers often have ads.

[Irshgrl31201]

Try this:

http://newjersey.forrent.com/

[CardinalGirl]

Ford, my husband and I have owned and operated a property management company for many years. As others have mentioned, it really would benefit you to contact a firm that specializes in managing property.

In my town, there have been a couple of real estate companies that have tried to also do rentals.....but they never do them well, and both discontinued that part of their business. Rentals are a whole different thing, and they take a lot of care and attention.

Moving is stressful enough when everything goes smoothly.....don't make it harder on yourself than it needs to be.

[lizzief]

I went through a similar fiasco when my DH was transferred. We were assigned a realtor from the relocation service and I had just 2 weekends to find a place and the weekends were Christmas and New Years! I spoke with the realtor ahead of time and told her exactly what I wanted. Easy money, right? When I joined her to look at houses she had not set up any appointments, we called when we were sitting in front of the homes! Most of course were not prepared or had holiday company and wouldn't let us in! She sent me to the hotel after the first day with the MLS book and told me to pick the homes I liked and we would do it again the next day! So the first weekend of course I found nothing. I called the relocation company and insisted they assign someone new. The next weekend I saw 5 homes on Saturday and had a contract on Sunday! So definitely get a new realtor! No, they don't make much money, usually a month's rent which they have to split with their broker. But since you will probably eventually buy, they are shortsighted not to help you. The real estate business is all about referrals and relationships, and those who cultivate both, do very well.

[Chalcedony]

I am working with two realtors currently - one to sell my VA home and the other to help me find a home in TX. Both are consummate professionals and will receive no criticism from me. That said, I don't wait for my buyer's agent to bring me listings -I scour all of the listing sites for properties of interest and send them to her. I suggest doing the same, as it lets the realtor know you are serious and engaged in the process. No one will care more about this search than you - take control of your own situation and move it forward, rather than simply complaining about it.

[millieshops]

Ford - I'm so sorry you and your daughter are up against it like this.

I don't know your area, but I know when I worked in real estate on Long Island, our agency had a separate rental agent although a selling agent could show a rental to her own clients. We just didn't know the rental inventory very well. It does sound as if the person you're dealing with isn't very organized or even cares much about your business.

Any chance you're some place where you can ask to work with a rental agent?

Also, rentals are actually much tougher than buying in terms of availability and they've become even worse now that so many people are finding owning is more expensive than renting. A few years ago in my area of Florida, you could rent anywhere you wanted for at least 10% under the asking rental; now, there are so few rental where I am that people are bidding up those prices just like they bid above asking when they're buying some kinds of properties.

[LilacTree]

On 1/29/2015 Chalcedony said: I am working with two realtors currently - one to sell my VA home and the other to help me find a home in TX. Both are consummate professionals and will receive no criticism from me. That said, I don't wait for my buyer's agent to bring me listings -I scour all of the listing sites for properties of interest and send them to her. I suggest doing the same, as it lets the realtor know you are serious and engaged in the process. No one will care more about this search than you - take control of your own situation and move it forward, rather than simply complaining about it.

Why would you assume we are not doing that? We are both online constantly every single day on every rental site one can look at, some suggested here, some local, most we had already been looking at. On Wednesday we drove through every single neighborhood in two towns with one story ranchers looking for "For Rent" signs. We are now picking up the Sunday newspapers and flyers which, frankly, I forgot existed anymore. We are working with three realtors. We have made calls to every community property manager. By suggestion here, I am even looking at Craig's List, even though I don't trust it.

The one thing my daughter is stuck on is a single floor. There are literally tons of townhouses, condos, etc. where the bedrooms are all up. If she will just give up on that issue (which she will have to soon) I will rent a stair chair if the landlord agrees. Most landlords on this BB have advised me that they would agree to that.

Why the negative comment? I don't even know you. Are you going to dare say no one ever "complains" on this BB?