Finding a new rental property is already an incredibly stressful process. Moving out of an old place or trying to find your first rental can be time-consuming and difficult. This process has become even more difficult with the rise of rental scams. These scams are used to take thousands of dollars from people when they are trying to find a place to live.
The lister often disappears once they’ve secured your money, leaving potential renters feeling taken advantage of. But, while these scams are frustrating, there are a few things you can do to determine whether the listing you’re looking at is legitimate. If you’re about to begin your rental journey, keep reading to learn the signs you should look for in potential scams.
1. The Price is Too Good
Ultimately, if the rental price seems too good to be true, it probably is. The cost of a rental unit will be set based on the properties in the area. While there may be some variation, with older properties being listed lower than newer properties, these prices are still proportionate to your city. If the price of the property you’re looking at is way lower than any other property in your area, this may be a sign that this is a rental scam, and it is best to stay away from it.
2. The Listing is Vague
When they are listing a property for rental, property owners or management companies will often highlight as many features of the property as possible. In such a competitive market, these features are a great way to stand out from the competition. If, when reading the listing, you find that there aren’t many details about the property at all, you might want to flag this as a rental scam. They may not mention features of the property because they don’t know of any. This may also signify that they’ve never been to or don’t own the property, which is also a red flag.
3. They Don’t Want to Show the Property
As you go through the rental process, it is important that you tour the properties you’re interested in before agreeing to anything. While pictures are a great way to decide whether you want to tour a property, nothing quite compares to actually touring it. During these tours, you can look for details they might not include in the listing photos or details, including storage space, property condition, parking, and security. If the lister isn’t interested in showing the property to potential renters, this is a sign that it is a rental scam.
4. They Want You to Sign Immediately
Renting a home is a relatively slow-moving process. While you may be able to move into some properties within a few weeks, this process often takes 30 to 60 days. During this time, the management company will perform a rental screening. However, when dealing with a rental scam, the company or individual will try to get you to sign a lease agreement and send a security deposit as quickly as possible. Once you send this money, they’ll disappear. If you want to avoid this, it’s best to wait to sign until you’ve seen the property and know the listing is legit.
5. The Listing is Full of Grammatical and Spelling Errors
When the property owner or listing agent posts the property for rent, they will ensure the listing is as professional as possible. This includes checking for spelling and grammatical errors that may make the listing look unprofessional. If you spot major mistakes while reading through the listing, this may be a sign that the listing you’re looking at is part of a rental scam, and it is best to avoid giving them any personal information or money if you want to avoid being scammed by them as well.
6. They Want You to Send Money via Wire Transfer
If you’ve found a property you want to rent and are in talks to send a security deposit, you should still be wary about whether or not you’re dealing with a rental scam. The listing agent or property owner shouldn’t ask for these deposits through a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift card. These payment methods are difficult, if not impossible, to trace. If you choose to send money through these means, they may be able to take the money you’ve provided and disappear, leaving you out several thousand dollars.
7. You Can’t Verify That the Property is for Rent
While you may be tempted to find rental properties through Facebook marketplace or other similar websites, verifying that the property is for rent can be difficult. The people on these websites may be pulling images from actual rental properties or using photos from home listings to advertise a property they don’t own that isn’t for rent. If an address is listed, try driving past the property to check for rental signs and verify this isn’t another rental scam.
What to Do If You Spot a Rental Scam
If you believe you’ve spotted a rental scam, there are a few things you can do to get the listing taken down and protect other potential renters from the scammer. These steps include:
- Reporting it to the listing website
- Report the listing agent or property agent to local authorities
- Contact your state’s attorney general
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission
Avoiding a Rental Scam in Tooele
Rental scams can be incredibly frustrating, but you can avoid dealing with them if you know what to look for. When looking for a rental in the Tooele, Utah, area, turn to our team at Premier Utah Real Estate. Our team has decades of experience helping homeowners across the Wasatch Front find the perfect home. Whether you want to rent or buy, we can help make this process as easy as possible.
If you would like to speak to our team about potential rental properties or have any questions about our services, don’t hesitate to reach out today.
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