Viewing an apartment is often a decisive factor for many tenants. But what if you can’t visit the property in person? Don’t sweat it. Modern technologies help you to fully digitize the rental process, from real-time video tours to virtual contract extensions. Here are seven tech-focused tools that will help you Rent an apartment in a new city without seeing it.
Use rental offers that allow reviews
In the past, apartment seekers mostly relied on recommendations from friends and family. Today they can harness the power of digital technology. Look for the rental property websites and apps that allow user reviews. If the apartment you are looking at has a lot of negative reviews, it may be time to continue your search elsewhere. This is also an opportunity to track down an unreliable landlord. If they regularly ignore negative feedback, this is usually a very telling sign of an unhealthy landlord-tenant relationship.
Do a Google search to assess the credibility of the rental company
While reading reviews is an essential aspect of house hunting, it’s usually not enough. You need to do a thorough Google search to verify a property manager. For example, google the exact address of the apartment. Gather information about the building, e.g. B. his age, amenities nearby, Etc.
Check if there are any negative stories or reviews about the building or its neighborhood. Former tenants with negative experiences often share their stories on tenant forums, rental ads, local news, etc. You can also use the land registry service to verify who owns the property. Inconsistencies in the landlord’s name and personal information may indicate that you are dealing with a scammer.
Harness the power of Google Maps and Street View
Image: Edgar Moran on Unsplash.
Google Maps is a reliable partner for apartment seekers for several reasons. Maps can help you determine the distance from an apartment to your most important places like work, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, etc.
In addition, Google Street View enables a virtual walk through the neighborhood. The tool provides you with accurate and reliable insights into the community. All you have to do is enter the exact address of the apartment in the search box and take a walk around the neighborhood. This gives you an idea of your new area and encourages/discourages you to visit the apartment.
Read local blogs to get a feel for a particular area
Renting an apartment in a new city can be challenging. Suppose you are moving from San Jose, California to Midland, Texas. When searching Midland apartments for rent, start looking for safe neighborhoods that fit your needs.
Read local blogs and reviews to gauge your preferred area. In addition to the location of the apartment, also consider other variables such as: B. the crime rate, easy access to the places you need most and the average rental price. Most importantly, you will learn more about the rental process in your future city.
Request a 360 degree tour of the house
When searching for apartments online, those searching are dependent on the photos of the property published by a landlord. This type of content is prone to manipulation, so make sure you are not disappointed. For example, property managers may hire professional photographers or use photo editing software to make the home appear larger or more flattering.
Now you can avoid such scams in several ways. for starters, technically skilled real estate managers offer 3D property tours. These technologies provide a 360 degree view of the property. This way you can get a better picture of the apartment before signing a lease.
Schedule a virtual meeting
If you rent an apartment in a new city, you will not be able to meet the landlord in person. Luckily, with the advent of cloud technologies like Skype or Zoom, you can schedule a virtual meeting. Don’t hesitate to ask the landlord to give you a live video tour of the apartment.
If they have nothing to hide, they will be happy to show you around and answer your questions. They also want to get to know you to make sure they can trust you as a renter. On the other hand, if they refuse to meet you on Skype, you should be careful how you proceed.
Strive for seamless online experiences
If the new city is far from your current location, going through the rental process in person is not an option. In this case, the goal is to get as much done online as possible. Look for online rental websites or agencies that allow you to rent an apartment without even seeing it.
Choose a property manager or real estate agency that can handle the paperwork virtually, from signing the lease to extending the lease. Ask a property manager if they use an online billing system. This allows them to send more accurate invoices and simplify the rent collection process.
over to you
Renting an apartment virtually is not easy, but it is not impossible either. First, you need to learn more about your new city and set realistic goals. With the help of advanced digital technologies, you can facilitate the rental process and make informed decisions.
