Forum
« Kitchen Cabinets Venetian Blinds »
October 24, 2008
ADVISE NEEDED ON HOW TO GET RENTERS
We have a beautiful apartment in our brownstone in Bed Stuy for rent. we have rented it before but the renter came through a friend. Now we have it available and have posted ads on craigslist only to have people come in who look like they could be running away from the law. I know it's a pioneering neighborhood for cheap rents but I do see a lot of decent people who rent in our block. Is there any advice anyone would have on how to find a good tenant?
Comments
What are you asking? Possibly its too low. I found mine through CL and they are wonderful.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 24, 2008 5:21 PM
If you raised the rent a bit more you might get a better class of people who are stable and financially secure.
Posted by: Ysabelle at October 24, 2008 5:21 PM
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Posted by: Ysabelle at October 24, 2008 5:22 PM
Advertise in the Irish Echo. That's what everyone did when they don't want to rent to sketchy people (tongue only partially in cheek)
Posted by: denton at October 24, 2008 5:28 PM
Is there a reason you are not using an agent? they seem to help a lot with screening,etc.
Posted by: mimi at October 24, 2008 5:36 PM
Irish Need Not Apply
I'm partly Irish, I can say that!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 24, 2008 5:58 PM
yes raise the amount a bit and stops alot of rifraft from coming in. lol once i did have a crazy person who came in.
they were asking why electric and other things weren't throwing in and started to curse and other things.
Posted by: armchairwarrior at October 24, 2008 6:20 PM
Only rent to McCain supporters, that should get rid of a lot of the rifraf.
Posted by: Xander Crews at October 24, 2008 6:25 PM
Look I had the same problem, until I started posting on Craigslist early saturday mornings. Most of the problem childs don't get up early in the mornings. Instead I started getting professionals and students. I went with the students and they have been fantastic.
Posted by: HOBOKENROCKS at October 24, 2008 6:27 PM
Thanks for the guys with the honest advice to the racist that posted that I should advertise on the irish echo shame on you. RAce is not a concern and wait till you rent and have people with guns stuffed in the back of their pants show up to your open house. Cheers denton. Even if you're trying to be funny it just makes a poor commentary on who you are and how you think.
This is all new to us and the real perspectives on renting are appreciated.
Posted by: buckfire at October 24, 2008 6:40 PM
Mimi... maybe not everyone thinks using an agent is necessary. And others may actually think using an agent to rent a reasonable apartment is ridiculous and basically allowing a real estate agent to steal.
How much effort does it take to rent an apartment? You still have to review the "finalist" anyway.
What if you end up turning away perfectly wonderful tenants just because they don't have an extra $2000 to hand over to a realtor for a couple hours effort.
Personally, I think the rental agent racket in NYC is disgusting... especially given the rates they charge. I always thought a month's rent was high (Boston), but that's only 8% or so. Brooklyn starts around 10% and just goes higher... does the landlord really get that level of service??!!
Say, the rent is $1500/mo. That's an $1800 fee!! I'd certainly rather pay the landlord an extra $150 a month... rater than throwing it at an agent that did NOTHING for me.
Is $1800 not worth your time? (reading some e-mail replies and spending a few evenings meeting prospective tenants!?!)
Posted by: tybur6 at October 24, 2008 7:00 PM
It may be that it a weird time of the year - you just missed the September rush.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at October 24, 2008 7:04 PM
I won't use an agent because I used to be one. Even though there are a lot of agents out there that do a good and professional job there is a large majority that do not. I got to see first hand how people did not care who they showed an apartment to as long as they showed the apartment to meet their quotas and make money. Is not even their fault when they have brokers that push them with crazy numbers to make so that they can keep their desks. The screening process is almost not there. Even if it seems right in theory I rather pocket the money for that extra expense of a brokers fee for somebody I'm going to have to approve in the end anyhow.
Posted by: buckfire at October 24, 2008 7:14 PM
Also... as a person who has used agents and not... I gave my landlord a lot more "leniency" if I didn't throw away money at the start of our relationship. I was more open to my landlord being a decent person and not just sucking money out of me.
The apartments that used an agent... the image is, they are just a business that wants no more involvement in the property than a monthly check.
Also, am I the only person who thinks it's unethical to charge one party and provide the service to the other? What else could I pay for but no get to use? Should I pay the landlord's car payments too?
Posted by: tybur6 at October 24, 2008 7:24 PM
"I rather pocket the money for that extra expense of a brokers fee"
The renter pays the brokers fee....
Posted by: AnneReal123 at October 24, 2008 7:28 PM
How big is the apartment? My daughter, who just graduated from The Culinary Institute of America is looking for an apartment with a room mate or 2. Is the apartment near transportation? Do you think the neighborhood is safe for a young 20 year old woman, who might have to work late?
Finally, how much is the rent?
Posted by: newcomer at October 24, 2008 7:33 PM
All I can think re looking for a tenant in the Irish Echo is the ol' Irish saying: "Drink is a terrible thing. It makes a man shoot at his landlord. And it makes him miss." (full disclosure: I'm Irish. And have never once shot at my landlord.)
Maybe you can screen people on the phone first, and get references? Also, if there are any teaching hospitals nearby that can be good, because residents are dream tenants. You can reach out to the residency coordinator and see if there's a housing liaison.
Posted by: lookin fer stuff at October 24, 2008 7:57 PM
I would rent the apartment but its in Bed-sty, your better off just leaving your stuff on the sidewalk and save them the trouble from breaking a window trying to get into the house.
Posted by: Xander Crews at October 24, 2008 7:59 PM
make the craigslist post using only caps
:)
Nice looking picture, ask the "decent folk on the block" if they know anyone who would be interested in renting a nice place on the block.
Posted by: 11211 at October 24, 2008 8:34 PM
The first two postings on here are now gone. That is so wierd. One was very informative about how to pre-screen people over the phone. The second was mine, just saying good photos and spelling are appreciated by good renters. I can't imagine why BS would remove them. Any idea what happened to them?
Posted by: mopar at October 25, 2008 10:20 AM
Some good advice above
We have found tenants through craigslist and have been very happy.
My 2¢:
1. Give a lot of information in the listing. This allows the readers to pre-screen. I do 5 or 6 photos, a floor plan and a long description. I also provide hard copies at the open house.
2. As suggested above, do some prescreening over the phone.
3. Also as suggest above I would bet you are not charging enough.
4. Ask other folks on the block. We have a block association mailing list and this is something that comes up a lot. (we use google groups, but yahoo might have been better)
Posted by: phripley at October 25, 2008 11:21 AM
As a renter, I have dealt with agents who I know for a fact did not check my references and lied to the landlord and said they did. As a landlord, I would never use an agent. I could do a much better job screening tenants myself.
Posted by: mopar at October 25, 2008 11:23 AM
Oh, I see, this post is on the board twice. Sorry.
Posted by: mopar at October 25, 2008 11:25 AM
buckfire...how about answering the questions...how big is the apt and what is the rent for starters??
Kitchen/bath condition?
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 25, 2008 1:33 PM
Craig's list is great but you really need to advertise mid month and have open houses in the evenings and weekends--except to have several and keep showing the place until you have someone qualified. Also mention in the ad that a credit and background check will be made on all prospective tenants. I use TNS. its about 50 dollars per credit check and I generally willsplit the fee with the applicants--this insures that they are serious and have nothing to hide. Often times-they will let me know beforehand that there is some kind of problem--and in oe case ever offered up a guarantor and put additional money in an escrow account. Good luck!
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at October 25, 2008 4:54 PM
Why is the deposit $4600?
That seems very high to me.
Posted by: ann mattingly at October 25, 2008 8:04 PM
Apt is $1550 with a depost of $4600 and it's on Van Buren St.
Here's the CL post:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/892900314.html
The deposit is high, and you do not give a cross street. I can't tell from your description where it is located. It can't be near the J, the G, and the A/C as you claim - unless what you're saying is that it's not near any of them, in which case the inconvenient location could be a major factor.
Posted by: mopar at October 25, 2008 8:28 PM
Well The deposit is first month, last month and one month's security that's pretty standard right?
Posted by: buckfire at October 25, 2008 9:12 PM
I think it makes perfect sense to ask for first, last and one month's security. From the photos, the apartment looks beautiful. The rent seems reasonable, though your location seems to be a hike from any given train station. I'd say a big drawback is that you're only offering a 6-month lease. How many stable, solvent tenants would be willing to invest the time, energy, expense, etc., of moving into a place where there's a chance they'd have to repeat the process and expense in only six months? Would you make that choice yourself? That likely plays a part in who's responding, and what message (conscious or unconscious) you're putting out that they're responding to.
Posted by: vinca at October 25, 2008 10:31 PM
Buckfire, the ad should say security is $1550, not $4600. However, it will cost the renter $4600 to move in.
Posted by: mopar at October 26, 2008 1:55 PM
Your securty deposit is way too high. If you want to get a lot of people looking at it you are going to have to do first and last month's rent. I never paid more than that when I rented and that is the standard. I have seen some people do 1 1/2 months security but trying to go higher is going to limit your prospects, especially in Bed Stuy.
Posted by: Adam Dahill at October 27, 2008 12:18 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.