How can I find out if a Craigslist apartment rental is for real?
December 1st, 2009
I worry that even if I meet the person who places the Craigslist ad, they might be someone posing. Is there any way to check if the person is legit, and not some handiguy who might have taken snaps of an apartment while inside.
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All land ownership is a matter of public record. Call the town clerk (or the a city’s equivalent) to find the owners name and address. Then look the owner up in the phone book and call them.
Some of this can be done online. For instance, my town has real estate records online. http://www.assessedvalues.com/search.zhtml?jurcode=86
BTW, I’m sitting in an apartment I found on Craigslist. It’s a great way to find an apartment outside of those gigantic apartment complexes.
Hope this helps,
Ian Drake
NotifyWire.com
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No there is not. NY Post constantly runs stories of people being ripped of by answering ads on craiglist. You need to check with the property owner or a real estate broker.
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If the person has keys and shows you the place and doesn’t accept money on the initial showing, seems there would be no problems. No "real" landlord will accept cash on the first meeting. There’s no point in accepting cash for a property that hasn’t been rented. There’s references to check on the potential tenants first.
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The majority of postings on Craigslist are fake. Why bother to use a site with such a bad reputation? Apartments.com and apartmentratings.com both let you research legitimate apartments for rent. You can also read real reviews from tenants to help you decide whether you want to tour a particular apartment.
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