Has anyone here used this website?

jillianna

Just wondering if it's legit or not....

http://www.nofeerentalbyowner.com

Jill

garfunky

ummmmm.......

There are several companies like this.

My understanding is that they go thru various sources such as craigslist backpage matchifieds etc and then produce a list that they sell you.

Whenever i have received a call from a new client that is using one of these services , the listing in question has ALWAYS already been rented. Literally ALWAYS.

The caller then gets annoyed and says something about false advertising , at which point i have to explain that we did not ADVERTISE the listing with said service and its hardly my fault that a 3rd party sold them outdated information.

so basically i think youre far better off going to craigslist ,backpage,matchifieds, sorting on "no fee"
and calling the ones you like IMMEDIATELY.

just my 2 cents, though.

Happy Hunting !

armchair_warrior

here is something besides cl

http://listingmania.com/

jillianna

Thanks Garfunky and armchair - appreciate the help!

jodi

Always sounded like a scam to me, so I never tried it

armchair_warrior

http://www.base4space.com/default.asp?s=&b=200606131956318403

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/rentals

here are two more sites hehe.

escap

I've recently been looking for a place, and I've found that you either pay a broker fee and a lower rent, or no fee but a higher rent, so either way it works out pretty much the same. In this sense, although it's commonly touted that the buyer pays the fee, in fact it would seem that the seller pays the fee in that he has to charge a lower price if a broker is involved.

Other people's experiences differ?

garfunky

escap wrote: I've recently been looking for a place, and I've found that you either pay a broker fee and a lower rent, or no fee but a higher rent, so either way it works out pretty much the same. In this sense, although it's commonly touted that the buyer pays the fee, in fact it would seem that the seller pays the fee in that he has to charge a lower price if a broker is involved.

Other people's experiences differ?

My perception of the situation is that some homeowners are charging above market rate,using the broker fee as the justification,and thinking in terms of one year.

Probably because they are comparing their "no fee" apt to ones that are "no fee thru broker". Generally speaking if an outside Landlord offers to pay my fee in order to induce a quick deal then one can understand that they might charge a little more on the rent to make it back.

Individual homeowners who deal direct can easily mistake this as the "market price" if all they are doing is quickly perusing CL or some such.

Ideally speaking, The broker fee is for the "matchmaking service" provided. i sincerely hope my fee clients stay in their apts for a few years. not one. when people calculate fee vs no fee they tend to divide into ONE year. (ie 1800 for a fee apt or 2000 for no fee)
Personally speaking, if youre not happy in your fee apt for at least a couple years, im going to feel like i did not do my job. but thats me.

you might pay a matchmaking service to help find your mr/mrs Right.
but i doubt you would do so if you were just looking for mr/mrs RightNOW.

its a longterm vs short term concept.

FYI - Many landlords out there actually prefer using brokers specifically because they feel that if the client is willing to pay a broker ,
said client is

A) better qualified
significantly less likely to move out in a year

both of these assumptions appear to be generally true in my experience.

happy hunting.

escap

Thanks! Interesting to note. I feel a little bad because my broker, who was a very nice guy and very helpful, showed me a ton of places, including no fee places, and helped me get an understanding of the market. I applied for a place, but then did some more hunting on my own and found a place that I liked better and had to ditch him. All's fair in business though--the key was that the new place offered a two year lease at the current price, whereas the broker's places were expecting large increases next year and wouldn't allow two year leases. Had to go with the longer lease (and hope that the market doesn't crash next year, which I don't think it will).

garfunky

Congratulations !

In the end you obviously have to do what is best for you
and what makes you happiest.

Thats part of the business and i go thru this often enough myself.

its always nice when the client calls lets me know theyve found something and spends a moment thanking me for my time and assistance.
Also keeps me from calling them with 4 more apts. ;0

escap

I called him--he was very cool about it and just said congratulations and good luck. Excellent business, incidentally (or actually not), since I'd refer others to him now.