Protecting Yourself Online During Your Search for the Perfect Kansas City Rental.

Most people who use online services like Kansas City Premier Apartments’ web site rave about the convenience they provide in helping them find a new rental home. From time to time, however, potential renters can run into problems during interactions with property owners or find themselves in situations they feel are suspicious online. Although our clients have never reported anything out of the ordinary, we want to provide you with ways to avoid these circumstances entirely. To help, we have put together this list of tips to help you protect yourself online during your quest for the perfect Kansas City rental.

Keep these things in mind when looking for the perfect new place to call home:

• One of the biggest things to keep in mind while browsing the site for a new rental home is the old adage; If it seems to good to be true, it almost always is. Look for clues that would give this away and question them. Is the rent too low for the market and/or area you’re looking in? Does the neighborhood sound “too perfect,” or are the terms to die for? If you find yourself asking these questions, you need to check out the situation a little more closely. Look at similar rentals in your area of choice. Do they measure up? Be certain to trust your instincts. If you’re not sure or you’re uncomfortable, look elsewhere or contact a free Rental Advisor through Kansas City Premier Apartments. Our free Rental Advisors are experts in the Kansas City area and can direct you on where to find the information you need or get it for you.
• Check into the people you’re dealing with online. Make it a point to meet potential landlords and/or property managers face-to-face before signing a lease.
• Steer clear from irregular forms of payment. If your not willing to take a chance, don’t use a wire transfer service, or an online escrow service to send money as a down payment or security deposit. You want a paper trail. Insist upon having one, and if the potential landlord won’t comply, look at other Kansas City rental opportunities.
• If at all possible, do not finalize a rental without first seeing your new home. Before you send or pay a dime, be sure that you have checked out the rental’s condition, size, features and so on. Check to make sure they match what was described in the online profile. If you can’t do this in person yourself, ask a friend to do so or even enlist a free Rental Advisor though Kansas City Premier Apartments to assist. If your in a situation where you need to rent sight unseen, a Rental Advisor can become a irreplaceable tool in the rental process.
• Kansas City Premier Apartments does not get involved in lease transactions or money transfers whatsoever. Do not take part in a business transaction with anyone that says KCPA (Kansas City Premier Apartments, Inc.) is handling any portion of the transaction, including payment protection, certification of the rental, escrow services or so on. We also do not offer satisfaction guarantees of any kind.

Signs of Online Rental Fraud
While none of the scenarios below present a clear-cut case of fraud, it is up to you to proceed with extreme caution if you come across any of the following as you deal with a potential landlord or property owner.

Out-of-town landlord
This can and does happen for a number of valid reasons, but the distance of the landlord can create issues for you. If the landlord or property manager says he or she lives far away from the rental, it could be a sign of fraud. View sample email.

Pressure to close
If you feel you are being pressured into paying a deposit, fee or first and last month’s rent before you are ready, this is a cause for concern. This should be especially so if you have yet to see the rental in person. View sample email.

Too good to be true
You find yourself presented with an unusual set of reasons as to why a rental fee is below market value or why you cannot see the apartment prior to renting it. View sample email.

Direct contact with landlord isn’t possible
The prospective landlord or property manager refuses to meet you in person or speak with you on the telephone. View sample email.

Example 1: Out-of-town landlord

Hello,
The price for the rental is $500 and I would like a two-month advance payment of rent plus a half a month’s rent for a security deposit. This works out to $1,250.

The rental is all ready for you and is completely furnished and has a flexible lease. It comes with all amenities and utilities included, such as electric, cable, parking, laundry, high-speed Internet access and so on. Pets that are well behaved are welcomed.

I do not reside in America any longer. I took a job in overseas, but still own the property and would like to lease it out for extra income. If you are interested in the rental, let me know and we can establish leasing terms. I will need your number so I can call if you necessary.

Sincerely,

Brian Bradford

Example 2: Pressure to close

Hello Tom!
I forwarded your information to Kansas City Premier Apartments and I suspect they will be contacting you soon with more details and instructions. The contract will become legally binding as soon as you move in. It is not designed to force you to do anything.

I am sorry if I am trying to speed this along, but I do need to lease this rental as quickly as possible. The only problem is that I have a waiting list for the rental that was created in the order e-mails arrived. At the moment, you are the third on the list of interested parties. If you find something that makes you feel the rental is not for you, let me know right away and I will contact the next person in line.

Thanks again!

Janie

Example 3: Too good to be true

Dear Bonnie,
I am so pleased to hear of your interest in my rental. I now live out of town and decided to lease my property to make extra income.

The average rental rate for a place in this part of town is $1,000 a month, but I am asking $600 because I would prefer to get less and make sure I have a good person who can pay the rent living in my old place. I have a current tenant, but she is moving out at the end of the month.

In regard to the lease agreement, my terms involve an advance payment of three months every cycle, or $1,800. Kansas City Premier Apartments will take the money for the first cycle and hold it until you have a chance to check out the rental. When you send them your confirmation that you desire to rent, they will send it along to me. I do require the payment in advance at KCPA because my time is limited and I do not wish to disturb my current tenant.

Please understand I am simply protecting myself from people who are not serious about renting and who wish to waste my time.

If my terms are acceptable and you wish to move forward, send me your full, legal name and address. I will pass these along to KCPA. They will contact you with all the payment instructions to make sure the deposit and first cycle are covered. The process takes less than a day and I will then contact you over the phone to schedule a meeting so you can inspect the apartment.

Should you decide you do not wish to lease, KCPA will return your money to you.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Elaine Johnson

Example 3: Too good to be true

Dear Keri,
The rental I have is still available. Since I moved out of state, I am looking for a minimum of a one-year lease because of the difficulty in travel involved. I cannot come into town just to show you the rental because of the distance between us. I will need you complete a rental application form if you would like me to consider you as a potential tenant.

I realize it is very difficult to complete the process long distance, but if we can come to terms, I will be delighted to come to town and go through the lease contract agreement at that time.

I can assure you the rental is in pristine condition with all brand new appliances inside. As soon as you see it, I know you will love it. I welcome small, well behaved pets, by the way.

The rent for the unit is $1,000 a month, and the deposit is also $1,000.

We can sign the lease as soon as you are satisfied with the rental. Please contact me directly for more photos of the apartment and for the application form.

Best wishes,
Gerard

Be smart when renting on the internet. If you ever think something sounds to good to be true, it probably is...