Should I use an apartment locator service?

May 16, 2006 8:51 AM

I have to move by July 30th, and I've started looking for a place. I would prefer a private landlord vs. a managed complex. In my searching, an apartment locator service has come up, and I'm wondering if I should use them.

I saw this question from a landlord's perspective, but not from a renter's.

I live in Baltimore. My lease ends on July 30th and will not be renewed. In the local City Paper, every week there's a version of this ad:

ALL AREAS CHARLES VILLAGE: Cute apt, lots of light! Gas cooking, pets $400 CHARLES ST: 1 Br, Renovated unique, yd pets ok, appls $500's FEDERAL HILL: 2 Br, 2 sty apt, deck pets, utils pd no credit check! LITTLE ITALY: Updated lovely apt, garg air deck pets $700's MT VERNON: Renovated beautiful apt, pets, hdwd,closets ++! $500's LOCATORS 1-888-626-1616 MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

So, I called the number for more info. They charge about $200 for their service, and guarantee a placement (though his exact words were "if you don't move", and that worries me). The pitch was smooth but not too pushy. They claim to have listings for a lot more private owners that I won't find anywhere else, and in my price range ($650 or less, at least one bedroom - more $$ if electricity is included, less if no utilities are included).

I've been monitoring the papers and craigslist but those ads are usually available too soon timewise. I've seen some real estate companies with promising listings but not many. Also since I *have* to move, I don't want to wait too long and be SOL. So what do ya'll think? Is using a locator worth it? Any stories or experiences?

posted by golden_lady to home & garden (5 comments total)

My experience has been bad. It turned out I could have easily found all the places they suggested on my own and saved the money.

IMHO there is no such thing as "private owners that I won't find anywhere else". Why would renters do things that way?
posted by y6y6y6 at 8:58 AM on May 16, 2006

Fellow Marylander here, and while I can't claim any experience with locator services (on the flip side, I did work for a major area property management firm for several years), I would suggest continuing to monitor Craigslist. As you've seen, new ads get posted every day, and that's where we ended up finding our place (we lucked into a four-bedroom TH that was posted 2 1/2 months in advance of the moving date). Alternately, you may want to consider checking in with a few realtors; I believe some handle rentals.

The line the locator service gave you about the "guarantee" made me a little nervous. I don't know anything about those types of companies, but it seems weird to pay up front on their promise that they'll place you somewhere -- makes me think if you don't settle for something subpar, they'll keep your money anyway.
posted by justonegirl at 8:59 AM on May 16, 2006

Also - Check out this site. apartmentratings.com I used it to find my current place and have never been in a better apartment.
posted by y6y6y6 at 9:01 AM on May 16, 2006

Thanks for the link, y6y6y6. I'll check it out.
posted by golden_lady at 9:07 AM on May 16, 2006

Don't give them your money -- those ads they post with wonderful descriptions of crazy-cheap apartments refer to apartments that are mysteriously never available. The money back guarantee only refers to a portion of the money. They don't have any listings that you can't find elsewhere.
posted by desuetude at 4:16 PM on May 16, 2006