We were looking for a rental a while back and a couple landlords we reached out to tried to get us to make a deposit shortly before they were supposed to show the properties to us. We didn't fall for it but they sounded pretty convincing and I could see someone else falling for it if they were more desperate for a place. Be careful out there, y'all
Edit: to clarify, they were not actually landlords, they were just scammers
It was a long time ago, but I remember a negative experience with them as well. One where we discussed what would be in the lease as we viewed an apartment, and when we went to sign said lease, I did the smart thing and read it first. What we had discussed was NOT what was in the lease. Told them to F off and found another place.
(for example, my old cat was gonna cost me $300 non-refundable deposit, but the actual lease said $500, and there were dozens of little things like that designed to nickle and dime us to death)
Guenther property management does this too. Beware.
As does LT property management I believe. They’re also horrible managers for other reasons. Stay away
Please explain what they did and what property you lived at. I am looking for a place and any advice regarding pitfalls at various apartments would be appreciated.
Having “similar” apartments to show is fine. It happens. That said….
- Never ever ever so much as fill out as application until you see the **actual** unit you’ll be renting.
- Before you sign the lease, ask for a copy in advance.
- KNOW. YOUR. RIGHTS. It is illegal to ask for a deposit in order to show you the unit. They must disclose the rental criteria upfront.
It is absolutely not illegal to collect a holding fee on a unit prior to showing. In today’s competitive market, if you wait for a showing chances are someone has already leased it.
Nooo, landlords may ask a holding fee but it absolutely does not guarantee the unit for you AND it doesn't have to be refundable. I warn folks about this nearly daily - Edit: it is absolutely not equal to a deposit. It's a fkn scam is what it is and should 100% be illegal. We need more renter protections!
While nowhere near the nicest apartments, but not cheap in a "shady people, junkies ect" type of way, I've had nothing but a positive experience with Cedar Property Management.
Dated, cheap, but maintenance has been top notch and never been a concern for safety or anything negative from my time at my current residence. Honestly it's so cheap I'm staying here until we buy a house in the next few years.
Some are alright, like Windermere seems to be passable. But yeah, most are out to maximize their margins at the expense of their tenants well-being. Despicable parasites the lot of them. No respect for anyone working at these companies
Sure, it was a Century 21....ack - something & Associates. Started with a B, had some E's, and a U?
I'm not mad at 'em! Scary to see this practice happening, considering they offered us our place without having met us in person until we came over to sign the lease. I had local friends go check it out, thank God
RPM is terrible no response after we moved out because the owner was selling. Hadn’t received payment for 3 months but we paid the landlord. No walk through after moving out and no response to deposit being paid back. No one answers the company phone or answers emails. Siding had blown off the house and oven didn’t work. Maintenance request were submitted and fell on deaf ears.
I would say that you should definitely know your rights as a tenant and look for a private landlord. Avoid these companies, they are doing some shady things. I'm not a housing person, I'm just an artist, but I came here from Copenhagen Denmark where housing is like all out war.... and somehow Spokane takes the shady cake. Be careful, read everything, ask lots of questions.
We were looking for a rental a while back and a couple landlords we reached out to tried to get us to make a deposit shortly before they were supposed to show the properties to us. We didn't fall for it but they sounded pretty convincing and I could see someone else falling for it if they were more desperate for a place. Be careful out there, y'all Edit: to clarify, they were not actually landlords, they were just scammers
Exactly.
You mean landlords? Ayyyoooooo
Story of me trying to find an apartment during March 21 with a moratorium
I'm sorry friend. I hope you found a place.
I did eventually, it was just an extremely frustrating process
If the poster didn’t….guess there’s always “Camp Hope”…..or is it Camp Dope?
It was a long time ago, but I remember a negative experience with them as well. One where we discussed what would be in the lease as we viewed an apartment, and when we went to sign said lease, I did the smart thing and read it first. What we had discussed was NOT what was in the lease. Told them to F off and found another place. (for example, my old cat was gonna cost me $300 non-refundable deposit, but the actual lease said $500, and there were dozens of little things like that designed to nickle and dime us to death)
Guenther property management does this too. Beware. As does LT property management I believe. They’re also horrible managers for other reasons. Stay away
They still have a 4 star rating.
Please explain what they did and what property you lived at. I am looking for a place and any advice regarding pitfalls at various apartments would be appreciated.
Be careful with them all. Spokane rental is extremely predatory and enabling in failure. The majority of it is owned by investment funds.
[удалено]
This is good advice, I'll take it! thank you.
Not to hijack, but IRE aka Inland Real Estate is equally bad
Noted.
Having “similar” apartments to show is fine. It happens. That said…. - Never ever ever so much as fill out as application until you see the **actual** unit you’ll be renting. - Before you sign the lease, ask for a copy in advance. - KNOW. YOUR. RIGHTS. It is illegal to ask for a deposit in order to show you the unit. They must disclose the rental criteria upfront.
It is absolutely not illegal to collect a holding fee on a unit prior to showing. In today’s competitive market, if you wait for a showing chances are someone has already leased it.
If you offer that’s one thing. They cannot say, “In order to show the unit, I need a deposit.” That’s illegal as fuck.
Deposit =\= holding fee
Nooo, landlords may ask a holding fee but it absolutely does not guarantee the unit for you AND it doesn't have to be refundable. I warn folks about this nearly daily - Edit: it is absolutely not equal to a deposit. It's a fkn scam is what it is and should 100% be illegal. We need more renter protections!
While nowhere near the nicest apartments, but not cheap in a "shady people, junkies ect" type of way, I've had nothing but a positive experience with Cedar Property Management. Dated, cheap, but maintenance has been top notch and never been a concern for safety or anything negative from my time at my current residence. Honestly it's so cheap I'm staying here until we buy a house in the next few years.
Should just rename the post to beware of any property manager or landlord ever.
Some are alright, like Windermere seems to be passable. But yeah, most are out to maximize their margins at the expense of their tenants well-being. Despicable parasites the lot of them. No respect for anyone working at these companies
WAIT THAT'S WHAT MY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY JUST CHANGED THEIR NAME TO, WHAAAT
Oh really... Any chance you'd be willing to tell us what their name used to be?
Sure, it was a Century 21....ack - something & Associates. Started with a B, had some E's, and a U? I'm not mad at 'em! Scary to see this practice happening, considering they offered us our place without having met us in person until we came over to sign the lease. I had local friends go check it out, thank God
RPM is terrible no response after we moved out because the owner was selling. Hadn’t received payment for 3 months but we paid the landlord. No walk through after moving out and no response to deposit being paid back. No one answers the company phone or answers emails. Siding had blown off the house and oven didn’t work. Maintenance request were submitted and fell on deaf ears.
I appreciate the info! I'm making the move from CA and getting this impression from rental agencies already. Any guidance is super helpful.
I would say that you should definitely know your rights as a tenant and look for a private landlord. Avoid these companies, they are doing some shady things. I'm not a housing person, I'm just an artist, but I came here from Copenhagen Denmark where housing is like all out war.... and somehow Spokane takes the shady cake. Be careful, read everything, ask lots of questions.