Source: G2 —
Not every “for-rent” is a “homecoming.”
How long does it take you to finalize a new home for rent? Can you silence your inner needs of owning a perfect apartment with perfect french windows, a serene neighborhood, and a backyard?
In your quest to find the perfect home, you might have come across innumerable “for-rent” apartments or checked out dozens of ads. Hiring a real estate agent saves all that time.
The real estate agent is the “pandora’s box” in the real estate world. They have access to the most selective apartments, which are affordable, well-furnished, and centrally located.
One of a real estate agent’s responsibilities is maintaining the infrastructure requirements of a rental apartment. They monitor property surroundings, check for wear and tear and run asset maintenance through property management software.
If you still have time before you leave, learn about these 14 benefits of a real estate agent to find your next rental.
Who are real estate agents?
Real estate agents are licensed professionals who connect tenants to landlords, arrange transactions, and negotiate the correct price terms. Real estate agent work on a contractual basis and charge commissions for services. If you book a real estate agent to find a house for rent, they can’t leave you midway through all the paperwork.
Real estate agents are trained in the art of selling. They can drive you downtown, lay the groundwork, and help you decide on a potential home investment. The amount of effort they put in is a testament to the benefits they bring.
Benefits of a real estate agent
Direct interaction with property owners or landlords might land you in a quandary of thoughts. The owner’s background, rent, security, and legal compliance are the main issues you must worry about. Since they own the place, it won’t take them a minute to blame you for something and send a notice of evacuation. A real estate agent binds both parties into a contract that expires after at least a year. The contract prevents the owner from falsifying charges and accusing the tenant out of the blue.
Before you call a place your home, you need to do the math. You need to examine the place, identify the defects and inform the property owner about the current condition. Real estate agents help you narrow down your analysis, calculate incurred costs and tie you up in a negotiation with the owner.
Getting into a contract with a real estate agent can help you learn what they do and the benefits they bring on board.
14 benefits of using a real estate agent
- It’s free
- You can have an honest relationship
- Agents have total access
- You might be a bad negotiator
- You might have credit issues
- The nuances of the lease
- Security deposit implications
- Ethics and Expertise
- Facility maintenance
- Rent control
- Neighborhood and locality information
- Police verification and documentation
- Move-in inspection and repair
- MLS (multiple listing service)
1. It’s free
When you contract with a real estate agent, they will usually not charge you anything because the landlord will pay for the agent’s services. If a landlord rents to a tenant represented by a real estate agent, the cost to the landlord can sometimes be as significant as an entire month’s rent. But again, that’s not your problem.
2. You can have an honest relationship
Like going to a car dealership where the staff is non-commissioned, dealing with a real estate agent can be great because that agent will be working for you while paid by the landlord. This lances away money from the picture — at least between you and the real estate agent. This means the goal of both parties can be to find you the best apartment at the best price in the best location.
Your relationship with the real estate agent shouldn’t be cloaked in ulterior motives, which makes for a more stress-free experience.
3. Agents have total access
Yes, we know that you are computer savvy and capable of looking on all the online sites, finding the still-existent rental magazines, and even cruising neighborhoods in search of “for-rent” signs. You are good at Excel, and you like to make spreadsheets, and you know you could create a beautiful rendition of everything for rent in the neighborhoods you like and your price range.
Our point here is that there is no good reason for you to have to do that since a real estate agent can complete all of that work for you. They will constantly hit you with warm leads and bring detailed property insights to your table. It is up to you to reject, accept, or ask for more choices. What could be easier?
4. You might be a bad negotiator
Michael Rozbruch said, “Everything in life and business is negotiable, everything!” He wasn’t kidding; this can be especially true in apartment rentals. In Austin, Texas, many would-be tenants look at the listed price for an apartment as an asking price as if the property were a home.
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