If you've ever rented a place to live...

dpdw

Please help me settle this debate with my realtor.  When you are searching for a rental house/apartment....

Apparently the "poll" function isn't working, so I'll have to do this old school.... 

When you are searching for a RENTAL house or apartment, do you:

1) Research "comps" (search IN A LIMITED SPECIFIC AREA/CRITERIA (in other words, look at rental listings of the same general description (could be 1 bedroom or 4  bedroom and/or shitty quality) so long as they are within .25 sq miles of a particular address) and figure out what is a reasonable price.

 OR

2) Do a search in a 5, 10, or whatever-mile radius of where you want to live and your price range (example, $1,500 - $2,000/month) and look at the best of the listings you find. 

Disneygeek77

2

RondackHiker

We've always done number two, but I could see doing number one if you're living in a high density area, like a city.

Baltimore goes from ghetto to high class neighborhood by crossing the street, so if you want a particular neighborhood, the search range will be small.

Fianschneid

I do #2. (hahahaha)

[Deleted User]

2

azzyberry

#2

MandaPanda518

When looking to rent, I lean towards option #2. When I'm setting prices for the apartments I manage, I go with option #1.

JET29

I've always done #2.

I'm not sure I even understand option #1.

lrn327

JET29:

I've always done #2.

I'm not sure I even understand option #1.

#2 and this

nikip6454

I am not sure I totally get it but #2 sounds about right!

 I would figure my criteria, which at the time I was renting was 2 bedroom, two bathroom (DH and I cannot share), dog friendly and a garage/underground parking (eff scraping my car every morning) and narrow those results by price and location.

LuckyDad

I live in a coastal area where buying is insanely expensive, so I have a lot to say about this topic.

For us, we have always figured out how much we can afford, what amenities we *require* (dishwasher, in-unit laundry), and how many BR we need, and started our search there. We had a fairly wide range of acceptable neighborhoods, and actually moved more towards the 'burbs this time around simply because we needed more bang for our buck. *But* we don't have school aged children yet.

I know a lot of people with kids look at schools and districts first, then look in the area. Commuting can also be a consideration, but a lot of my 30-something unmarried and childless friends actually prefer a longer commute but living in a funner, hipper area.

So I guess bottom line it depends if you are talking about a 4/2 in the suburbs vs. a 2/1 downtown condo. Those two types of properties are going to attract very different demographics who probably rent quite differently.

cmiller0623

#2.  That way you can find a wide variety of places and find what suits you.

I honestly dont understand what #1 is saying...maybe my Monday brain isnt working lol.

BrittKav

I look up the city and number of bedrooms, and narrow it down by price if there are a bunch of results.

[Deleted User]

GhostMonkey:

2. If I'm looking for a 4 bedroom, I really don't give a fvuck what they are asking for a 1 br because that isn't relevant for me.

And no place here negotiates on price. You pay it or find another place.

 

All of this.

ThePolishHammer

2

Luckie519

two

quidditchcapn1120

Both. I have to live in a certain distance from the hospital, so I started there. I found out what the average price was for a rental which was way higher than I was expecting and so I had to adjust my expectations on price. Then I did my research on areas to find out which ones were safest and had the features I was looking for. Then I searched specifically in that area for the particular amenities I was looking for.

If I was going to search anywhere else I've been living since adulthood other than Chicago, I would do it most like number 2.

Wufroggy79

Number two.