Has anyone else found it effective to use a real estate agent to find a rental?

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nefron_IHB

New member
Just wondering what other people's experience has been with using an agent to find a rental. I don't know how much they make for securing a renter for a client, so maybe they aren't too motivated. When I was looking last year, it was so hard to look and work full time that I thought about contacting an agent. Has anybody else done this?
 
Most realtors won't be so helpful because they don't get paid as much on representing renters looking for properties. My renters and I have always used craigslist.org with great success. However, there are instances where having an agent assist you does help. That being said, IR2 or I can help you out.
 
nefron said:
Just wondering what other people's experience has been with using an agent to find a rental. I don't know how much they make for securing a renter for a client, so maybe they aren't too motivated. When I was looking last year, it was so hard to look and work full time that I thought about contacting an agent. Has anybody else done this?
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Any savvy agent will view it as an opportunity to secure a future client, a client with potential for a much better payday in the future. If I hadn't finally found something recently then I was thinking of letting an agent start doing some of the work for me. It can save you a good deal of time playing phone tag, getting answers to some basic/routine questions, and it can make it easier to get into some of the available properties. I'm 75 miles away from Irvine when I'm in the area, so it was becoming a bit of a pain.

But make sure that you're clear about which properties you want the agent to help you with, and how the agent will get paid. I mention that because their are always a number of properties that are not listed with an agent, that are not in the MLS. And remember, it's a buyers/renters market, be patient, many things are negotiable.

Of course you will miss out on having some listing agent whine to you because she has to get off HER lazy arse to show you HER listing because YOU have the gall to not be using an agent. And the opportunity to give them some "feedback" when they show up to let you in. ^___^

*I used "her" above because I had a "her" pull this recently.
 
I would suggest using an agent.

They can do the stuff you can't do... especially while you're out of town.

And I think in today's economy... they are just as motivated in finding rentals as they are in selling/buying homes. It's almost just as much work looking for one... but much less work once it's found... and it's a repeat client in 12 months.

You should contact IR2... his data alone on Irvine Rentals for 2008 is more than some agents would do.
 
irvine_home_owner said:
You should contact IR2... his data alone on Irvine Rentals for 2008 is more than some agents would do.
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From personal experience, IR2 is great. He has definitely earned my business when it comes time to buy...Highly recommended.
 
CK said:
irvine_home_owner said:
You should contact IR2... his data alone on Irvine Rentals for 2008 is more than some agents would do.
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From personal experience, IR2 is great. He has definitely earned my business when it comes time to buy...Highly recommended.
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I'm moving next week and IR2 has been very helpful for scanning MLS, finding & showing properties, negotiating with listing agent, and getting the deal done.
 
Well, I used IR2 to lease my rental and he totally sucked...

Always late to appointments, smelled real bad with all that liquor on his breath, and stumbled around one property mumbling something unintelligle about someone named Ray Kinsella.

He didn't help me paint in the rental and didn't help lay any sod either. When I put new toilet seats on all the toilets, where was he?! Not there... What a disappointment.
 
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ipoplaya said:
Well, I used IR2 to lease my rental and he totally sucked...

Always late to appointments, smelled real bad with all that liquor on his breath, and stumbled around one property mumbling something unintelligle about someone named Ray Kinsella.

He didn't help me paint in the rental and didn't help lay any sod either. When I put new toilet seats on all the toilets, where was he?! Not there... What a disappointment.
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You're a tough nut to crack, Ipo.

Although I suppose this explains the ballot I liberated from your mailbox...

abd.JPG
 
This really depends on the market. NYC - unfortunately essential, west LA - need to use 'westside rentals' usually, coastal OC, they help - most other places, not necessary in the craigslist era in my experience.
 
I think there may be folks like me that are looking to move up while still keeping their current residence. In this day and age, even with Craigslist, I think you need to make sure of the folks that lease your "baby" are good folks. To do that, you need good guys like IrvineRealtor to watch out for you. He is certainly the guy I will use when I need him (hopefully in the next 6-9 months). Im in the UCI area and will NEVER use the specailst 'couple' realtor that are just plain rude and arrogant.
 
I use the MLS listings on the OC Register site and then call the listing agent if I want to see it. Nowadays the response is usually "when do you want to see it". There doesn't seem to be a lot sales volume out there. When I prove to them that I am someone that owners would like to rent to then the treatment gets even better. They must get a lot of pretenders because it does make a difference when you show them a paystub and recent credit report.

I also of course heavily use the mapping services, especially the birdseye view on Yahoo and MicroSoft Earth. I find Google earth to be too cluttered and often inaccurate.

All that said if there are properties for rent that are not MLS or Craigslist I would pay a realtor to show me those. In my DIY approach I may be overpaying. I am currently paying $3,000 for 3BR, 3BR 2,100 sq ft in Woodbury.

I would also appreciate a realtor on my side in a rental search. I get the same BS that realtors spew when trying to sell a home: "hurry there are already several offers" blah, blah blah. Yeah, right, there are so many people out there looking to rent for $3k.

IR2, my rental contract is up and I am currently month-to-month. I am looking for a 3BR that has an office, at least 2,100 sq ft, near both Elementary and Middle Schools.
 
Our relocation company provided assistance in finding a rental and our experience was poor. The relo company used a realty co to find us a rental and the few apartments they sent us were as expensive as advertised on the website, and in one case we were quoted by the realtor $250/month more than the townhouse was advertising. I got the impression the realty co was getting a cut of the rent or fee from the apartments and was not interested in helping us find the best price out there. An individual realtor may do better.

We have finally capitulated to the long months of travel, separation and cost of flying weekly to our home out of state while working in OC. We contacted IAC and were quoted a price lower than on the website for Turtle Ridge. We make the move to the reptile in about three weeks. Our home will hit the market in March or April.
 
Irvine5 said:
I use the MLS listings on the OC Register site and then call the listing agent if I want to see it. Nowadays the response is usually "when do you want to see it". There doesn't seem to be a lot sales volume out there. When I prove to them that I am someone that owners would like to rent to then the treatment gets even better. They must get a lot of pretenders because it does make a difference when you show them a paystub and recent credit report.

I also of course heavily use the mapping services, especially the birdseye view on Yahoo and MicroSoft Earth. I find Google earth to be too cluttered and often inaccurate.

All that said if there are properties for rent that are not MLS or Craigslist I would pay a realtor to show me those. In my DIY approach I may be overpaying. I am currently paying $3,000 for 3BR, 3BR 2,100 sq ft in Woodbury.

I would also appreciate a realtor on my side in a rental search. I get the same BS that realtors spew when trying to sell a home: "hurry there are already several offers" blah, blah blah. Yeah, right, there are so many people out there looking to rent for $3k.

IR2, my rental contract is up and I am currently month-to-month. I am looking for a 3BR that has an office, at least 2,100 sq ft, near both Elementary and Middle Schools.
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Hi Irvine5, How did your looking for a new rental turn out? We will be in OC first of new month looking for a 2b/2b rental condo or townhouse in Irvine also next to an Elementary school as we have a new 1st grader to start. I have found IHB to be very informative and people very helpful.
 
my wife and i just used rent.com and seemed to have good luck. i also just drived around and called. many of the small places with low marketing/budgets seem to ahve the best deals
 
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