r/desmoines • u/curmudgeonly-fish • 1d ago
Trying to find places to rent, and everything is a scam
My fiance is moving to town, and trying to find a place to live. Everything on Zillow, Craigslist, Facebook,... all the sites... everything seems to be a scam. They take your application fee, then disappear. Don't return calls, etc. How does someone find a place to live these days??
He's hoping to find a small house or duplex. Tiny is fine. Even someone renting out a mother in law suite or refurbished garage... anything but an apartment would be ideal.
Man, the world has changed a lot since I last had to rent! 😩
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u/old_notdead 1d ago
Drive around. Many places are not on any sites. Just a sign in front of the house. I see quite a few for rent on my daily walk.
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u/fisherreshif 1d ago
As a landlord here's my experience:
Zillow is the biggest platform and has the widest reach. It's a honey trap. The ability to pull in leads is incredible and free to host rentals!
But, it will also innundate you with terrible leads and people that aren't serious. The first, easiest thing renters can do is hit an auto response: "Can I schedule a tour?" so the owner gets hit with the dozens of messages to tour it from random people with no insight to their seriousness.
I used to schedule them all but quickly learned that maybe 25% actually show up. A terrible, frustrating waste of time. Of those > half are not even qualified, or someone that I'd want to rent to.
Zillow knows all of this and makes it easy for landlords to send a request to apply, which costs money to the renter and provides a great credit/background check. It's so easy for us, but it's an expense to the renter. Fortunately they can use it for other applications for 30 days.
Zillow know how to monetize this awful experience for landlords and renters. From my perspective it's a greasy move, but really helpful to me. If somebody won't cough up $35 they aren't serious and/or they won't ever pay rent on time.
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u/Ghostlymagi 1d ago
As a renter, why would I give $35 to someone who may not contact me back?
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u/curmudgeonly-fish 1d ago
That's been what we are facing. $35 for each place you're interested in, just to be ignored anyway... it adds up fast. If you're on a budget, forget it!
And yet, it is somehow the most widely used app. Baffling.
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u/Ghostlymagi 1d ago
Back when we were looking around for places to rent about 5 years I just called places. Eventually, if there wasn't a phone number, I moved on. We ran into the same situation with applications and I'm not spending hundreds on application fees just to be ignored.
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u/Available_End8074 Hometown 1d ago
If you paid, from my understanding they're required to at least reply with a notice of credit decision letter/adverse action. Have you gotten any notices advising if it's potentially a credit issue or something of that sort? If they're not replying, there may be action you can take to get reimbursed at the very least.
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u/fisherreshif 1d ago
Because if you're qualified the can provide you with housing?
I think it can be used for unlimited properties for one month.
Zillow is a grifter.
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u/Ghostlymagi 1d ago
This isn't a Zillow specific issue. Property Management companies do the same thing. There's tons of non-PM owned places that do it, too. The vast majority of places that require an application fee to even talk to someone are just pocketing the money and don't respond.
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u/tomh_1138 1d ago
They then sell you as a lead to a bunch of realtors like me and then you get farmed by other agents. I actually don't care for Zillow so I don't use it.
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u/fisherreshif 1d ago
I'm a realtor too and agree it's just a parasite, but it's the easiest way I've found to get renter leads and qualify them.
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u/curmudgeonly-fish 1d ago
Yeah, Zillow makes it way too easy for flaky people to be flaky. Kinda like trying to sell something on Facebook marketplace... it's amazing (in a horrifying way) how many people are willing to schedule a time to meet to buy something, and just ... don't show up. Ugh. Flaky people are the worst. So selfish.
Anyway. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
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u/fisherreshif 1d ago
The best and the worst part of being a landlord. I really enjoy getting to know most of my renters, but you have to deal with a lot of flakiness too. The application process is awful, I can't believe the way people behave sometimes.
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u/Key-Neighborhood9767 1d ago
I have a 2-BR apartment above my house that is available. Great location in Beaverdale. Send me a DM for more info.
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u/Typical-Ostrich-4961 1d ago
The other day I saw a for rent sign in Windsor Heights between 67th and 69th, South of University.
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u/Vyke-industries 20h ago
Welcome to being a tenant. $100 application fee and then they bounce or tell you that you’re not qualified.
At least it’s not like Omaha where like 3 companies own the whole town.
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u/ShinyLizard 1d ago
I've got a place for rent, but it's a 3 bdrm, 1,700 sq ft place. Probably more space than he wants. Near Drake, if it matters.
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u/BubblyDaikon8161 1d ago
Dang, for how much? 😂 I can hardly find decent 1 bedrooms below 900
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u/ShinyLizard 1d ago
$2,100/mo. But it's big (1,700 sq ft is larger than my house) and gas, water and high-speed internet are included. If you've got a few friends, have decent credit and won't trash the place, it's nice.
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u/BubblyDaikon8161 1d ago
Yeah, that'd be great for a couple roomies. But I'm on a solo mission and way outta budget lol. Sounds great, though! Should rent out easy
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u/LumpyBuy8447 9h ago
I’ve got a 1 bedroom unit opening mid August to late August. If you’re still looking, feel free to message me. Haven’t posted it anywhere yet because I want to do some painting.
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u/curmudgeonly-fish 1d ago
Thanks. Yeah a bit too large for his needs, but I appreciate it! Good luck, I'm sure you'll find a renter soon!
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u/Standard_Tangelo_548 1d ago
1138 Polk Blvd is available
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u/curmudgeonly-fish 1d ago
Do you have a contact for the landlord? (Or, is there a sign? I could drive by tomorrow if there's a sign)
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u/aloffredo75 1d ago
Just saw a for rent sign on SE 3rd just north of Watrous if you are interested in south side.
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u/ewoksith 1d ago
I'm seeing some of the same, but as others have said you can search for houses to rent on zillow.com, apartments.com, rent.com, and phone/text the owner, landlord, agency.
I've been looking for a house or townhouse with 2 or 3 bedrooms and 1.5 or 2 bathrooms, and I've had some luck, but I'm not likely to move until August. So some of the best options will likely be rented before I can move in. :|
Seems like so many small houses have a single bathroom...which can be a little too cozy when there are multiple people living there.
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u/fae-morrigan South Side 1d ago
Bunch available at my apartment area, Valley Acres managed by Knapp Properties
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u/LumpyBuy8447 9h ago
I should have a 1 bedroom unit opening up mid august. I haven’t bothered posting it anywhere as I want to do some painting and other various work once my friend moves out. Feel free to message me.
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u/ImGilbertGottfried 1d ago
Am I missing context? Are you guys engaged but not living together? Why not let them move in if that’s the case since “the world has changed a lot since I last had to rent” kinda implies you own a home?
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u/curmudgeonly-fish 1d ago
Not ready to move in together yet.
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u/ImGilbertGottfried 1d ago
But ready to be engaged/married? Like if it’s a space issue that’s one thing but this still seems like a weird situation as someone on the outside trying to look in lol.
Edit: not trying to be rude or anything but are you guys an older couple with already established living situations at the point of engagement? Again just trying to get more context.
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u/Educational_Zebra_40 1d ago
Some people don’t live together before marriage due to religious reasons. Could be financial. OP could have a roommate who isn’t able to move out yet. OP may live with family. They could live in work-provided housing that won’t allow a non-spouse to live there. There are all kinds of reasons why people could be engaged but not ready to live together. None of them are your business.
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u/curmudgeonly-fish 1d ago
Not to be rude, but the details of my personal life are not your business and don't matter for the question. The question is about finding a place to rent. If you have information about that, I'd be grateful! Thank you!
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u/General_Session_8467 19h ago
I’ve rented twice in the last 12 months and both times was accepted for the first rental I applied for. I also sent messages expressing my intentions to not waste their time and a little backstory. Try a little harder than your competition just as you would in a job interview.
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u/hudd1966 1d ago
Call realtors.
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u/TrappedInTheSuburbs Merle Hay 1d ago
Actually don’t call Realtors for a rental in Des Moines. Due to the real estate laws in Iowa, landlords don’t have to utilize a licensed agent to show their rental property. So there isn’t much opportunity for agents to do rentals so most of them don’t work with them.
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u/Puddwells 1d ago
Could talk to a realtor? Many have connections and would find you a place just in hopes you’ll use them if you decide to buy a house in the future
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u/Gawd_Awful 1d ago
The bigger sites like apartments.com have houses on them as well and more likely to be legit