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housing [2017/01/03 19:28]
ishivvers
housing [2019/05/06 17:52]
tzick old revision restored (2019/05/06 17:50)
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 The best place for apartment listings is [[http://​www.craigslist.org/​|craigslist]]. You can use this to find apartments and potential roommates. Apartments are generally listed as available immediately,​ or on the 1st of the next month. So, if you're looking for an August 1st move in, the best time to look is the last two weeks of July.  The best place for apartment listings is [[http://​www.craigslist.org/​|craigslist]]. You can use this to find apartments and potential roommates. Apartments are generally listed as available immediately,​ or on the 1st of the next month. So, if you're looking for an August 1st move in, the best time to look is the last two weeks of July. 
  
-The university also runs the [[https://​calrentals.housing.berkeley.edu/​|Cal Rentals]] office, which will let you access its listings for a small fee, but almost everything that shows up on that site shows up on Craigslist too. There is also the more full-service (and more expensive) [[http://​www.bayrentals.com/​|Bay Area Rentals]]. Most students opt to work entirely via Craigslist, though.+The university also runs the [[https://​calrentals.housing.berkeley.edu/​|Cal Rentals]] office, which will let you access its listings for free (it costs money to post, but you can look for free). There is also the more full-service (and more expensive) [[http://​www.bayrentals.com/​|Bay Area Rentals]]. Most students opt to work entirely via Craigslist, though.
  
 ===Leases=== ===Leases===
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 Most people don't realize that you are competing to get the best apartments. Before you even look at an apartment, put together a tenant resume. This is a list of references, bank accounts, etc that show the landlord that you can afford the apartment and are a good risk. You can download a blank resume ​ [[http://​www.ehousing.com/​cgi/​pdf/​RR2001.PDF|here.]] You shouldn'​t worry about giving a landlord your bank account numbers; without your PIN, they can only make deposits or check balances. **PKGW comments:** It is true that you're competing for the best apartments, but I've never found the tenant resume to be helpful. If you think that you might want to sign on a place at the viewing, it's useful to have your bank account info and such around, but pretty much everyone will want you to fill out an application of their design which asks for all the information that would go into such a resume. Most people don't realize that you are competing to get the best apartments. Before you even look at an apartment, put together a tenant resume. This is a list of references, bank accounts, etc that show the landlord that you can afford the apartment and are a good risk. You can download a blank resume ​ [[http://​www.ehousing.com/​cgi/​pdf/​RR2001.PDF|here.]] You shouldn'​t worry about giving a landlord your bank account numbers; without your PIN, they can only make deposits or check balances. **PKGW comments:** It is true that you're competing for the best apartments, but I've never found the tenant resume to be helpful. If you think that you might want to sign on a place at the viewing, it's useful to have your bank account info and such around, but pretty much everyone will want you to fill out an application of their design which asks for all the information that would go into such a resume.
  
-You will also want to run a credit report on yourself. If you leave it for the landlord to do, they will usually charge you $30, but if you do it yourself, it's free. I think equifax is a good company to use, but don't quote me on it. **PKGW comments:** In my experience, everyone wants to run the credit ​check themselves and is just going to charge you the $30.+You will also want to run a credit report on yourself. If you leave it for the landlord to do, they will usually charge you $30, but if you do it yourself, it's free. CreditKarma provides free credit ​reports
  
 My strategy is, if you are remotely interested in an apartment, give the landlord your resume and credit report the first time you see the place. This is helpful in showing the landlord that you are organized. While the landlord checks your references, use that time to look at other apartments and decide whether you are still interested. When the landlord calls you to offer you the place, you can still say no. My strategy is, if you are remotely interested in an apartment, give the landlord your resume and credit report the first time you see the place. This is helpful in showing the landlord that you are organized. While the landlord checks your references, use that time to look at other apartments and decide whether you are still interested. When the landlord calls you to offer you the place, you can still say no.
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 ===Advanced Strategy=== ===Advanced Strategy===
 +
 +CAUTION: This is about a decade out of date
  
 So I hesitate to bring this up... but the rent that an apartment is listed for is not set in stone. It is possible, but risky, to bargain with landlords. It's most effective when there aren't many prospective tenants for an apartment; i.e. there aren't many people looking for 5 bedroom houses in March. I once found myself in this situation looking at a 5 bedroom in the Berkeley Hills that was asking $5500. We submitted an application,​ but offered only $3500. Two weeks passed, and the house was advertised on craigslist for $4500. I contacted the agent and reminded him about our offer, but they weren'​t interested. I continued calling the agent a couple times a week to see if they responded to our offer, but I didn't hear anything for about a month. Then I offered $3600 to see if that got any response; they came back with $3500, which made no sense. We split the difference with $3550; we've been living in the house now for more than a year. If you're a BADgrad, you'll probably come to a party here at some point. ​ So I hesitate to bring this up... but the rent that an apartment is listed for is not set in stone. It is possible, but risky, to bargain with landlords. It's most effective when there aren't many prospective tenants for an apartment; i.e. there aren't many people looking for 5 bedroom houses in March. I once found myself in this situation looking at a 5 bedroom in the Berkeley Hills that was asking $5500. We submitted an application,​ but offered only $3500. Two weeks passed, and the house was advertised on craigslist for $4500. I contacted the agent and reminded him about our offer, but they weren'​t interested. I continued calling the agent a couple times a week to see if they responded to our offer, but I didn't hear anything for about a month. Then I offered $3600 to see if that got any response; they came back with $3500, which made no sense. We split the difference with $3550; we've been living in the house now for more than a year. If you're a BADgrad, you'll probably come to a party here at some point. ​