Broker Necessary These Days?

UPDATE

We just signed a lease on a gorgeous floor-through 1 bedroom w/ private garden in the north slope for $1900 (+ washer dryer) w/ no brokers fee. I'm thinking I'm cashing in on some good karma here :)

So, if you're a renter down on your luck don't give up! Have faith that it's absolutely possible to find a great space without paying an ungodly amount to a broker who does you no good. Just keep your hopes up and keep looking.

Posted by: ashleybrunett at August 10, 2009 10:43 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

My point was that brokers do not provide a service to tenants who find their posts online, and there really isn't a way you can refute that. Brokers provide a service to landlords and therefore it make no sense that renters would have to pay for them.

Posted by: ashleybrunett at July 23, 2009 3:03 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

@Crownifc - I posted because I want to find out why it is that landlords use brokers; the only reason that is is hard to find a good apartment without a broker is because a good chunk of landlords with nice places choose to use them, NOT because they actually provide a service. Your metaphors didn't really make any sense and aren't applicable to the situation that I posted about. I'm willing to do the work to try and find the perfect place, which is another reason I posted, to try and find even more resources to find my perfect new home, but I do not think it's fair to pay a fee to someone to basically get the contact information of a landlord, unless of course what you're really paying for is a service to the landlord so they don't have to deal with renting their own place(and if that's the case why is the price of a fee burdened on the tenant?)

So landlords/commentors - why does this happen?

Posted by: ashleybrunett at July 21, 2009 11:01 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

Hi guys, thanks for all the information! It's good to know that it's a little early to be looking for September, I hope I find something soon though, it's always a bit scary to not know where your next home will be.

@Brooklyn11218 - are you talking about Fido? I haven't seen any apartment discussion boards or know of any way to connect with future landlords - do you have any more info?

@Crownifc - posting a ad on CL should in no way equal over a $2000 fee. I was interested to find out why landlords use brokers and why this system is in place as it is only in New York that I've encountered this and personally found that it really is a detriment to renters. It is perfectly within my right to complain about this because as a renter, knowing that you have to pay a large chunk of hard earned money to someone who usually serves as an unnecessary intermediary hurts.

Posted by: ashleybrunett at July 20, 2009 10:34 AM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

We're looking for just 1 bedroom - ideally a floor through garden apt - and we have one older dog. Move in September 1 or later. Thanks for all of the feedback! It's so interesting to see how different people find housing/tenants; I've just got to be a CL stalker I guess :)

Posted by: ashleybrunett at July 19, 2009 9:27 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

I'll rent this place for 1850 :) email ashleybrunett@gmail.com

Posted by: ashleybrunett at July 18, 2009 4:25 PM in response to Rents going down? By how much?

My last tenant's placed her own ad in Craig's list and I found her a day later. Try that angle.

Posted by: jack slade at July 19, 2009 9:52 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

Affirmative. CL is still useful for this kind of hook up.

Posted by: argentina at July 19, 2009 10:22 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

it is very early yet for sept. 1 move in date. unfortunately you will not see many relevant CL posts until mid-august so don't stress.

Posted by: bowl of dicks at July 19, 2009 10:34 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

Agreed--Craigslist is your best bet. We have 3 apartments we rent out, and always use Craigslist. We like being able to meet prospective tenants from the jump, and see no reason for brokers or their fees. NB: we do require 2 months' security deposit, which, if added to a broker fee, would be insurmountable for many.

Good luck!

Posted by: curiositykilledthecat at July 20, 2009 6:32 AM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

I would also suggest you put the word out with the dog-people-networks in your relevant park. In prospect park there is a huge dog/person community and these folks will definitely have a line on dog-friendly places.

Posted by: Brooklyn11218 at July 20, 2009 7:37 AM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

I'm sorry but the issues of your broker's professionalism aside. You said the broker did "nothing" but you ended up in an apt you wouldn't have had a clue about if you didn't see her ad. Like I've said before, if you don't want to use a broker - DON'T, but complaining about paying a fee for a service you agreed to use that gave you what you were supposedly looking for is a bit silly.

Posted by: Crownlfc at July 20, 2009 10:10 AM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

Hi guys, thanks for all the information! It's good to know that it's a little early to be looking for September, I hope I find something soon though, it's always a bit scary to not know where your next home will be.

@Brooklyn11218 - are you talking about Fido? I haven't seen any apartment discussion boards or know of any way to connect with future landlords - do you have any more info?

@Crownifc - posting a ad on CL should in no way equal over a $2000 fee. I was interested to find out why landlords use brokers and why this system is in place as it is only in New York that I've encountered this and personally found that it really is a detriment to renters. It is perfectly within my right to complain about this because as a renter, knowing that you have to pay a large chunk of hard earned money to someone who usually serves as an unnecessary intermediary hurts.

Posted by: ashleybrunett at July 20, 2009 10:34 AM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

you're right that rental brokers are, on the whole, basically scam artists. it's a terrible culture that exists here. you just need to be really on top of the /nfa/ listings on craigslist. check it every hour or two. look for owner listings -- they're pretty easy to tell apart from the broker listings, because they're simple and sometimes don't even include pictures.

fyi if you are looking for september 1 or later, it is very early to be looking. you will start seeing more stuff in the beginning of august.

Posted by: duckumu at July 20, 2009 12:29 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

Ashley - You have a right to your opinion but your own quote "and it's so hard to find anything good without a broker" says it all . FYI, it's also hard to get a good haircut w/o using a hairdresser/barber. Good Brokers do more than simply put an ad on CL, I can assure you. We all try to save a little. Sometimes when I want to save $5 bucks I'll call in my takeout order and go pick it up myself but I don't complain about tipping when I have it delivered. In a city where you can't buy a cup of coffee without passing a tip jar, a real estate agent is the one service you can use without paying unless you get an apt. Yes, there are a lot of idiots in this business. You have that choice and should try on your own but don't be shocked to discover that it's not as easy as you think.

Posted by: Crownlfc at July 21, 2009 12:23 AM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?

@Crownifc - I posted because I want to find out why it is that landlords use brokers; the only reason that is is hard to find a good apartment without a broker is because a good chunk of landlords with nice places choose to use them, NOT because they actually provide a service. Your metaphors didn't really make any sense and aren't applicable to the situation that I posted about. I'm willing to do the work to try and find the perfect place, which is another reason I posted, to try and find even more resources to find my perfect new home, but I do not think it's fair to pay a fee to someone to basically get the contact information of a landlord, unless of course what you're really paying for is a service to the landlord so they don't have to deal with renting their own place(and if that's the case why is the price of a fee burdened on the tenant?)

So landlords/commentors - why does this happen?

Posted by: ashleybrunett at July 21, 2009 11:01 PM in response to Broker Necessary These Days?