I wouldn't trust myself.
July 16, 2011 1:23 PM
How do I go about finding a roommate situation sight unseen in a way that is safe for me and doesn't make me seem incredibly sketchy/set off scam alarms for the potential roommate?
I'm moving out of Providence, RI to start a job in mid Sept, looking for a beginning of Sept lease. I am currently working in Idaho until mid August, and all of my stuff is in Indiana.
I could potentially go out to apt hunt with or without all of my stuff in mid August after I leave Idaho, but it would probably be real expensive.
Another option is going out in the end of august/beginning of Sept, but I will be looking for a pretty cheap place and I'm concerned that if I'm scrambling to find something I'll be forced to pay more than I can afford.
Currently, I'm looking through Craigslist ads for roommates, and ideally I would find a situation that way and move straight into the apartment.
So, to that end, I'm looking for tips on how to protect myself in this situation and how to prove to the people that I am emailing that I am on the up and up. I've sent a couple emails explaining that I am looking to rent sight unseen and would need to have a pretty firm commitment that I can move in before meeting them. I've said that I can provide past roommate/landlord references, and that I could add them to my facebook so they can see that I exist, but if I were on the receiving end of one of these messages I would be really suspicious and probably not reply.
So yeah-- how do I show that I'm legit and make sure that potential living situations are legit? Is it possible over the internet? I realize that it would be much better to go out there ahead of time, but I'm really reluctant to do that if I don't have to.
I'm moving out of Providence, RI to start a job in mid Sept, looking for a beginning of Sept lease. I am currently working in Idaho until mid August, and all of my stuff is in Indiana.
I could potentially go out to apt hunt with or without all of my stuff in mid August after I leave Idaho, but it would probably be real expensive.
Another option is going out in the end of august/beginning of Sept, but I will be looking for a pretty cheap place and I'm concerned that if I'm scrambling to find something I'll be forced to pay more than I can afford.
Currently, I'm looking through Craigslist ads for roommates, and ideally I would find a situation that way and move straight into the apartment.
So, to that end, I'm looking for tips on how to protect myself in this situation and how to prove to the people that I am emailing that I am on the up and up. I've sent a couple emails explaining that I am looking to rent sight unseen and would need to have a pretty firm commitment that I can move in before meeting them. I've said that I can provide past roommate/landlord references, and that I could add them to my facebook so they can see that I exist, but if I were on the receiving end of one of these messages I would be really suspicious and probably not reply.
So yeah-- how do I show that I'm legit and make sure that potential living situations are legit? Is it possible over the internet? I realize that it would be much better to go out there ahead of time, but I'm really reluctant to do that if I don't have to.
What about getting a sublet in Providence for the month of September and using that as the launch pad to find your more permanent digs?
posted by hungrytiger at 1:31 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by hungrytiger at 1:31 PM on July 16, 2011
Do it on skype. It is a lot more revealing than being on the phone. Have a couple of chats with the potential roommates... and don't leap on the first opportunity to sign a lease, you WILL find someone and you need to be careful that the living situation is one that will work for you.
Perhaps look for people who, like you, are just moving to the area? They may be in the same situation.
posted by arnicae at 1:37 PM on July 16, 2011
Perhaps look for people who, like you, are just moving to the area? They may be in the same situation.
posted by arnicae at 1:37 PM on July 16, 2011
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I did give them my phone number also. It's not RI area code, though.
Also, I'm working in the mountains and I don't get cell service except when I come down on weekends, which I've explained but may make me seem even sketchier-- I can't actually think of any reason why this would be scammy, but it would seem a little weird if someone told you that, right? I'm just saying that I work during the week in an area without cell service so I'll get back to any phone calls on weekends.
I could sublet for the month-- the job is only a year long, though, and I'm not sure I'll stay in RI after that, so if I sublet for a month and then signed a year long lease I might be stuck paying for a month I wasn't using at the end.
posted by geegollygosh at 1:37 PM on July 16, 2011
Also, I'm working in the mountains and I don't get cell service except when I come down on weekends, which I've explained but may make me seem even sketchier-- I can't actually think of any reason why this would be scammy, but it would seem a little weird if someone told you that, right? I'm just saying that I work during the week in an area without cell service so I'll get back to any phone calls on weekends.
I could sublet for the month-- the job is only a year long, though, and I'm not sure I'll stay in RI after that, so if I sublet for a month and then signed a year long lease I might be stuck paying for a month I wasn't using at the end.
posted by geegollygosh at 1:37 PM on July 16, 2011
Could you get a google voice account and have it forward to a landline during the week? (you could obviously get a RI area code, but dunno if that's better or worse.)
posted by instamatic at 2:18 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by instamatic at 2:18 PM on July 16, 2011
Seconding the Skype idea. I've done this a few times, always successfully.
Write the first time mentioning you're from out-of-town, but would be happy to do a Skype chat. (Remember to include info about yourself when you write that first note. It's basically the first cut.)
Then, when they respond, set up a Skype date on the weekends. I'm sure if you explain what you're doing, they won't care, especially in Boise, where "spending time in the woods" is basically like "spending time on the subway" in New York.
posted by Karmacane at 2:27 PM on July 16, 2011
Write the first time mentioning you're from out-of-town, but would be happy to do a Skype chat. (Remember to include info about yourself when you write that first note. It's basically the first cut.)
Then, when they respond, set up a Skype date on the weekends. I'm sure if you explain what you're doing, they won't care, especially in Boise, where "spending time in the woods" is basically like "spending time on the subway" in New York.
posted by Karmacane at 2:27 PM on July 16, 2011
There are specialty roommate sites, like roommates.com, which people with unadvertised rooms for rent may be checking for roommates. There are also area driven rental listing sites like sublet.com, which target the low end rental market. If you're not registered at such sites, you should be.
With all your complications and concerns, and limited direct communications availability, I think your search, if it is going to be successful, has to be a lot more about quantity and breadth of contacts, than about screening and security. The more channels you use, the better your chances. When you have 5 possibilities that meet your needs/price range/dates, you can winnow them down with personal contacts. Until then, you need possibilities, and you're only available on weekends, to firm up a rental for a move-in date across the continent, 6 weeks away.
posted by paulsc at 2:52 PM on July 16, 2011
With all your complications and concerns, and limited direct communications availability, I think your search, if it is going to be successful, has to be a lot more about quantity and breadth of contacts, than about screening and security. The more channels you use, the better your chances. When you have 5 possibilities that meet your needs/price range/dates, you can winnow them down with personal contacts. Until then, you need possibilities, and you're only available on weekends, to firm up a rental for a move-in date across the continent, 6 weeks away.
posted by paulsc at 2:52 PM on July 16, 2011
In my experience (albeit in a different geographic area), roommate situations won't necessarily involve a 1-year lease, so subletting for a month shouldn't mess things up too much. (I'm assuming you would be moving into an established shared house/apartment, rather than finding someone and setting up a new apartment with them.)
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:38 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:38 PM on July 16, 2011
You have a job already lined up. Can you ask people at your new workplace if they have any leads? They know you're legit, you're coming to work with them. Consider renting a temporary place in Providence for a few weeks while you look for something more permanent. I don't know Providence well, but I don't think it's the kind of place where you're likely to find a lot of sublets, except maybe in the summer when students are away. Can you put all your stuff in a POD or something similar?
posted by mareli at 7:33 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by mareli at 7:33 PM on July 16, 2011
Last time I tried roommates.com, it was overrun with spammers. Anyone who's international is some kind of scammer. Just so you know.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:03 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:03 PM on July 16, 2011
I would definitely sublet. Actually I'm doing the same thing in Boston (and I'm actually in Boston right now). The east coast is hard for housing, at least Boston is, not sure about RI but I bet it's harder than other places.
I seriously would never sign a lease with people I never met before. Uh uh. No way. I've actually met people who turned out to be scammers, even after I grilled them (I grill them harder now). Sublet for a month and you will be good. Losing a months rent at the end would be superior to losing your first/last/security.
posted by sully75 at 8:45 PM on July 16, 2011
I seriously would never sign a lease with people I never met before. Uh uh. No way. I've actually met people who turned out to be scammers, even after I grilled them (I grill them harder now). Sublet for a month and you will be good. Losing a months rent at the end would be superior to losing your first/last/security.
posted by sully75 at 8:45 PM on July 16, 2011
FWIW I think it will be relatively easy to find a roomate in person on 1 September - like, in 48 hours. It's the start of the school year and people are always bailing, failing, or otherwise not turning up for rooms they rented. The local papers plus the housing offices plus the coffee shop boards plus flyers. Between Brown, RISDI, PC, etc I think it's less of an issue than it might be in other cities.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:24 PM on July 17, 2011
posted by DarlingBri at 1:24 PM on July 17, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Offer references of past landlords/roommates and ask for the same from them.
Facebook is a great idea, too, so it's good that you're already down with that.
Explain your situation using short, simple explanations (longwinded ones read SCAM), good grammar and spelling (which I see you can do), and proper control of CAPS lock. Don't mention anything about mailing rent/security deposit to them, since promises of money also sound scammy.
You may also consider saying that you would fly out to see them/the place in person, but you'd rather not because of the obvious expense. But if that's something you'd do in a you-either-do-this-or-can't-get-any-apartment-at-all situation, mention it.
posted by phunniemee at 1:30 PM on July 16, 2011