How can I delegate apartment-hunting in Cincinnati?
September 21, 2014 7:38 PM   Subscribe

I need to find an apartment meeting a specific set of requirements ASAP in Cincinnati, Ohio. Unfortunately, I literally do not have any time to spend doing this myself. Is there a broker, independent realtor, or some other kind of service where I can send them into the world and they will hustle up some acceptable places to live for me ... for a modest fee?

I recently accepted a promotion within my company that required a very rapid hit-the-ground-running move from Buffalo, NY to Cincinnati, OH -- as in, I had less than eight days from "acceptance of promotion" to "day 1 of new gig in Cincy." I am making a very, very long commute right now from Lexington, KY while I search for Cincy apartments in my extremely limited spare time; I have only been able to see four places in the past three weeks because most realtors simply won't see me in the hours I have available (after 8PM on weekdays and really not at all on the weekends).

I need to find a broker or subsidiary or SOMEONE to basically send out into the world with my short list of requirements. I don't know what the "good" neighborhoods are, which has resulted in me wasting my time since two apartments I've seen seemed like "good" areas until I went in person and realized, oh, hey, there's a bulletproof liquor store on the corner, this is not the kind of area I want to live in. I also don't want to pull the trigger on the first "acceptable" place I find, since I did that on the last move my company sent me on, and I ended up with a year's lease in an apartment I hated in an unsafe neighborhood. I plan to be here for two years so I need to REALLY like the place and feel safe in it.

I don't know anyone in Cincy who can do this for me as a delegate. I haven't found any "apartment broker" services outside of NYC or San Francisco. I cannot take the time out of my day at work (serious, no, it is impossible) to go see an apartment, even if it is only for 30 minutes. How do I find a place in this situation?
posted by none of these will bring disaster to Home & Garden (5 answers total)
 
Check your MeMail.
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 7:44 PM on September 21, 2014


Would a taskrabbit work for this?
posted by hydra77 at 8:21 PM on September 21, 2014


Best answer: I would stay in corporate housing for a month in Cincinnati. Then I would get a referral to a broker, etc from the nice people at corporate housing, who must have people like you stay all the time. This will buy you some breathing room and a place to crash on the weekends on the off chance you have to look yourself.
posted by crazycanuck at 10:10 PM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


I've lived in Cincy for 18 years. I'd be happy to help you narrow down a few neighborhoods. MeMail me if you'd like.
posted by cooker girl at 5:12 AM on September 22, 2014


I recently moved to Cincinnati on about 8 days notice also, and I would not recommend moving into an apartment or neighborhood in the greater Cincinnati area without having some time to check things out.

It's more expensive than just renting, but seconding corporate housing while check things out here for a few weeks at least.

Glad to give you my take on places I looked at in Northern Cincinnati (west Chester, Mason, Fairfield, Springdale, etc.) if that is an area that works for you.
posted by prettymightyflighty at 2:15 PM on September 22, 2014


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