How to Avoid Being Scammed When Renting an Apartment

When you’re looking to rent an apartment, the most critical thing you need to be wary of is scams. There’s plenty of people out there looking to scam others, which is why you need to be careful.

If you’re interested in knowing all the essential tips you need that will help you avoid getting scammed when renting an apartment, then read on.

●     The likeliest people to get scammed are those aged 18 to 29

This information is something you should remember, especially if you fall within this age group. It’s most likely because millennials often look for everything online. That’s why you should make sure to inspect everything in person and talk to the landlord to see what kind of a person they are.

●        The money

When it comes to money, there are several things you need to know. The most apparent scams are those involving apartments that are listed well below their market value. Then you have the landlords that are looking for a lot of money upfront. You need to be careful with these because many of such cases can end up being a fraud.

●        False claims about the apartment

Many landlords are not looking to rob you but are still looking to rent you a place that’s not at all worth the money you’re paying. The usual way they do this is by giving false claims about a property that eventually end up being incorrect. That’s why it’s essential to visit an apartment and check everything yourself.

●        Many scammers attempt to rent a place that’s not theirs

Yes, that’s a common thing. Many scammers copy out an ad for an apartment that already got leased. You can avoid this by checking if the condo is listed somewhere else and you can also look at the tax records to make sure that the owner is not someone else.

●        Make sure the place is real

Another reason to visit the home is to make sure it exists. However, sometimes you can’t. If you’re moving from somewhere far away, you can’t always visit a place first. You needn’t worry if you can’t as there are other ways of checking if an ad for an apartment is real. You can check the company or landlord online, and you can also use Skype or FaceTime to see the apartment and the person you’re dealing with and make sure it’s all legitimate.

Additional Advice You Should Consider

●        Using cash is a bad sign for renting.

●        Always use written leases which you can sign. You can sign leases over the web as well, but both parties that sign the contract need to use a valid e-signature service.

●        The lease you’re signing must adequately identify the owner of the place so you can make sure it’s the person you’re dealing with.

●        Always do enough research before signing anything and moving in. Google the landlord or the company leasing the place, and the site itself, as well as the market rates, so you know the home is worth the money.

With all of these tips and advice, you will now know how to spot a scam when searching for a new place to rent.