Is That Apartment You Want To Rent A Scam?
You may think that the apartment you just found is the perfect, affordable fit. But before you sign on the dotted line, there are several questions you must ask yourself.
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Have you ever wanted something so badly that you let that desire cloud your judgment? Maybe you’re dying to move out of your apartment into a newer place that’s cheaper and in a better location. Once you find a place with everything you want, all you can think about is renting it without taking a closer look at all the details.
What can happen if you rush into renting without looking at those details? You could fall victim to a scammer. And when it comes to renting, there are plenty of them out there waiting to take your money or your personal information.
If you think you’ve found the perfect place or are hunting for it, here are some questions to ask beforehand to ensure you’re not stepping into a scam:
1. Is the price too good to be true?
A scam is worthless if it can’t attract any attention. How can a scammer attract renters? The easiest way is to post a listing with a ridiculously low price. Depending on the location, they could get several bites within minutes of making the posting. And all it takes is one victim to turn a handsome profit.
Before jumping into a rental, know the surrounding market. If the rental price is way out of line compared to others in the area and is suspiciously cheap, you either have a scam on your hands or a place loaded with problems that you won’t want to deal with in the future.
2. Does the owner exist?
The Internet makes it easy for anyone to become a property owner in an instant. A person can place a fake ad with a low-priced rental, add some pretty pictures, and get a victim to wire a deposit without getting off their couch.
Ask about the owner. Look them up. Ask to meet them. And if they can’t meet, talk to them. If you can’t do any of those things, the owner probably doesn’t exist, and you could be close to danger.
3. Are you being pressured?
Is the agent hounding you for a fee to see the property? Are they asking for a deposit within one minute of having you on the phone? Do they keep saying that the property won’t be on the market tomorrow? If so, don’t let such pressure tactics push you into making a mistake.
Scammers know that time is of the essence, and to snag you, they usually need to do it quickly.
4. Is the ad fishy?
Bad grammar, horrific spelling, tons of CAPS, and loads of exclamation marks usually mean one of three things: The agent is bad at writing, they’re unprofessional, or they’re a scammer.
If you don’t trust the ad for one of those reasons, keep looking elsewhere.
5. Does the property exist?
You should always see the property in person before committing to anything. If you can’t see it immediately, at least ask for an address and other bits of data so you can do your research.
If it seems like this property doesn’t exist, you’re probably dealing with a scammer.
6. Are you trusting your instincts?
Always trust your gut. If something seems off, find another place.