How to Find a Perfect Home for Rent Online

The rental home search can be overwhelming, whether looking to spice up your living arrangement or moving after landing a better opportunity. However, this process can bring joy if you make the most out of the online search. 

Today, people have realized that the future is digital. The biggest advantage of online house hunting is access to an extensive pool of properties and the convenience of finding the dream house in the comfort of your couch or the office. You don’t lose any time since you don’t have to drive/walk the neighborhood from one open house to the next, hoping to land a great rental. 

Here are the top 5 effective ways to find a perfect house for rent online. Let’s dive in!

1. Do Research on Social Media

Social media platforms are the easiest gateways to virtually any online activity. The platforms allow users to connect with billions around the globe and discover places miles away. 

Whether you are active on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other social media platform, you have a chance to gather as much information as you need about rental properties: connect with landlords or find out details such as the going prices, features, and trends. This makes your search easier and more productive.

So, what kind of information should you consider as you browse social media? Geotags, for starters, are excellent. You’ll see the most frequented spots in a given neighborhood and what they stand out. If they include what tickles your fancy, you know where to head to once you move into that area.

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The neighborhood’s photos from users are real. I mean, they aren’t posting to generate marketing leads. This can provide you with a vibe of the area. The actual pictures make it easier to narrow the online listing. It is an especially vital indicator since marketers can stage properties, making them look like your futuristic dream home, only for you to find an old and tired building as you move in.

Check out the geotags and see what the other users say; you can even join the discussion and sneak in a few questions of your own. Don’t shy away from browsing through the comments; you are not stalking anyone, just doing some research. While there, don’t overlook those promotions either. Social media platforms are a major marketing tool and could be your gateway to a perfect rental house.

2. Use a Trustworthy Real Estate Platform

Online real estate platforms are much like an agent, but they are more convenient since you work within your schedule. An easy-to-use platform featuring great filters based on the location, type of rental you need, and price range, to name a few, makes the search hassle-free.

What’s on your checklist? A pet-friendly 3-bedroom apartment, two bathrooms, spacious kitchen, hardwood floor, open layout; name it, and you’ll find it online through the listing. The best real estate platform like Rentberry provides a wide array of filters. You can even find housing for Ukrainian refugees. As a result, it feels like you are working with a personal real estate agent.

Want to know the best part? You don’t just get a chance to find a dream rental house, but you can also use a trustworthy platform to learn rental hacks, make your everyday life at home more comfortable, and access a rich information pool to help you keep up with the emerging trend. The best real estate platform is a gift that keeps giving; you’ll bookmark it and use it long after you’ve found the best property as you work to supercharge your rental quests.

3. Get in Touch With Potential Neighbors

What beats word-of-mouth? Living in the era of paid posts, people trust peer recommendations more than ever. You hardly know anyone in the area, but it’s still a good idea to communicate with people who live within the same neighborhood and ask them to share their experiences.

Knocking on several doors is one way, but there are other ways to connect with neighbors without sacrificing their privacy. 

With a variety of contact finders, contact information like social media platforms or phone numbers is easy to find. Those tools are amazing and can help you find those numbers, talk to the neighbors, and learn more insight info to make an educated decision. Potential neighbors might not initially be as forthcoming, especially since many are used to marketing calls. Don’t give up, though; a few calls, and you’ll catch a friendly and helpful neighbor who’ll furnish you with loads of valuable information.

But why go through the trouble of contacting potential neighbors? They are not landlords, agents, or associated with the properties. This means that their input is not biased. They share their experiences as-is; no cosmetics to lure you in. This arms you with reliable information to make a sound decision, improving your chances of landing a perfect rental house. What is more, you might just make your first friend who’ll help you settle in your new neighborhood.

4. Ask for a Virtual Apartment Tour

When looking for a house online, you rely on your eyes. The majority of people (65%) are visual learners, so they consume visual information better. You don’t have to step into your new home to take a look at it or sign a rental agreement. Landlords know the importance of visual content, so they upload photos and videos, but they rarely capture every detail — only the gems to make the house irresistible. Luckily, you can ask for a virtual apartment tour.

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Before settling for a rental house you found online, it is important to see it from all sides. That’s what virtual tours facilitate; ensuring you pick a place that’s not just aesthetically appealing from the front door but also has all the features to meet your needs efficiently.

What is more, don’t hesitate to use virtual phone numbers to ask questions about your potential rental. The more you know about your house, the better. VR technology continues to change the real estate landscape, a field you can’t afford to ignore as you search for your dream rental house online.

5. Protect Yourself from Rental Scams

Rental scams are a lot more common than you might anticipate. Whether you’re about to sign up a rental agreement, make a rental payment, or just want to find a roommate, renters should pay attention to the details to rent a perfect house, but not waste money on scams.

First, never pay a dime without a detailed rental agreement. Second, ensure you read and understand every clause in the contract. Follow the general safety rules:

• Designate enough time to manage the search. It ensures you don’t settle since you’ll have enough time to compare many units. Inspecting the property photos and videos is not enough. As noted above, ask for a virtual tour, and ensure you see all the sides.

• Due diligence is crucial. Not everyone marketing online is who they claim to be. Start by using reputable platforms, and vet the landlords before making the final pick.

• Follow your gut. It doesn’t get things wrong as much as you would want to think when trying to do contrary to what you feel.

• Talk to a pro. If you don’t understand a clause, talk to a property lawyer. They can help you ensure you don’t enter into a rental agreement that’ll take you through hell.
  
• Stick to your checklist. Compromising one thing leads to the next. Before you know it, you could be in a property you can hardly afford or a cheap option that can’t scratch the surface of your needs.

Expert Tip: Make sure to read our comprehensive guide on How to Avoid Being Scammed When Apartment Hunting

The Bottom Line

With the popularity of online shopping, when people search for services in their cozy PJs, finding a perfect house for rent online is easy, provided you take the right steps. It isn’t that different from the traditional approach, only better since it is convenient.

Looking for a perfect house for rent online, choose 2-3 tips we’ve gathered and make the home hunting pleasant. After all, it can be a cost-effective way to find the rental of your dreams without leaving your apartment, saving your time.

Author Bio: Val Razo is a digital nomad who provides SMM consulting services for SMBs. Traveling around the globe, Val often rents apartments online to make the most out of her stay in foreign countries.