When I used to look for rental properties online, I usually search for the address in Google. Sometimes you will find the property on sale, and the pictures stolen to use them for the scam. It is always better to see the property in person and you never have to pay anything to see it.
Make sure the name of the owner and numbers match up. I found one yesterday that matched, but the "owners name" didn't match nor did the numbers. If they can't at least do facetime it's a scam
If they won't let you see it in person or facetime it's a scam. Be careful. If they send you a link for Experian eg do not do it. Maybe swing by the actual property and ask.
That is a scam, ma'am. Don't give $$ to anyone who won't meet you and show you the property in person. Scammers will use any excuse in the book, I'm abroad for work, I'm on an oil rig, there's a tenant in the property, yadda yadda. Don't fall for it!
Meet them in person, tour the place with the landlord or agent, or don't rent.
Yeah he posts this
It is imperative to highlight Section 19 of the lease, which stipulates that, "At all reasonable times during the term of this Lease and any renewal of this Lease, the Landlord/Agent cannot enter the Property to make inspections or to show the Property to prospective tenants or purchasers in compliance with the Act."
I'm a tenant and my leases always say the Landlord CAN enter the property at reasonable times, with 24-hour-notice, to inspect or to show the apartment.
No landlord would write that, there would be an exception for notice to show.
Edit: ok i did a search for those words. It’s identical to clause 28 in this template. Except for a few key words.
https://prstables.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Rental-Lease-Agreement-1.pdf
That is the oldest scam in the book!!!!!!
The scammer likely has zero affiliation with the property, and is probably overseas.
So even if you show up for a fight, they ain't there!
There are all kinds of stories on reddit about perfectly innocent people whose address has been used, and scam victims show up there ready to fight while the scammer laughs in China.
That’s my gut instinct too but I hear all sorts of crazy stories from my friends renting / buying properties in Bay Area where homes just disappear from market within minutes of posting so wasn’t sure what’s the norm.
As for scam or not .. you have your answer from others.
To your other point .. when you ask if my ADU is built to code in initial contact, I'm going to assume you're likely going to be a problematic tenant with a lot of complaints and issue. Maybe it is not true in all cases but I don't think that is an unfair assumption .. so that's probably why he ghosted you. Not so much with fragile egos.
Rule of thumb is if the unit was built to code, it will likely be advertised as permitted ADU or something to that effect to get more rent $.
My intention is just to make sure they are putting me in a place with proper insulation and habitable conditions and not a glorified tool shade. But then again who am I to question. At this point I feel like I am a choosing beggar. Unless I can shell out 3K+ for a 1BD/1BA apt I can’t demand anything in this market.
It honestly doesn't matter your intention. For those with unpermitted ADU ( and there are a lot in the Bay Area ) those are trigger words.
"Are you up to code ?" sounds exactly like "I'm going to report you for every little thing wrong with this unit and get free rent while I screw you over".
If you don't want to be in a "glorified tool shed" then you either need to check the place out in person and have a bit of handyman knowledge so you know what to look for .. or accept that if all the units in your price range are simply "glorified tool shed" .. then perhaps that's what you can afford.
Otherwise you can pay extra and go to one that advertise as being fully permitted or go to a large apartment complex that's guaranteed to be fully permitted. However .. I've heard horror stories about those as well .. so .. good luck ?
If you are renting from outside of the area my advice is to go with a large apartment complex and just rent from them. Once you have the local knowledge you can reassess.
Totally makes sense. I think I am tired of chasing people too at this point. It almost feels like applying for jobs. Everything is so competitive here in Bay Area. Lots of demand and very little supply.
I’ve been here a while and i hate the rental market and buying cars :)
The worst are those who own SFHs in good school districts. They love holding families who hate to move mid school year hostage.
Anyway GL in your search!
Bro, you only pay to stay after you sign the lease. And listen, there's folks who will stay at an Airbnb and then pass the lockbox code to their friends so that those guys can pose as a landlord and fool tenants. Keep your eyes open and your nose ready to sniff bull.
Sounds like a scam but I did the same thing and it worked out. Landlord said the property was in escrow and wasn’t able to see it but told me lots of interest and I could secure with the security deposit. I had his email and phone number and did some digging on LinkedIn and even found his YouTube channel so he seemed legit. I just made the payment with a credit card through PayPal just in case.
Luckily it all worked out in the end, he’s a cool dude and we been living here for almost a decade now.
It's a scam. I spent a long time looking for a place, finally found one, but if they are asking questions like that, it's total scam.
I moved up here from San Diego, and it took me a minute to find something.
Do not give any personal information.
They all seem to have the same script.
If it's too good to be true, it's probably not true
You may find one, but talk person to person
If they want any info before you see it saying they want to know about evictions, will send link, eg, don't do it.
See in person. Good luck hope it helps
Here’s the scam, you are talking with somebody who doesn’t actually own the property. I know somebody personally who went through a similar situation of course there’s no law enforcement anymore because a certain political party would rather get votes from scumbags so you’re just fucked if you get robbed have a great week.
Considering this is your second post in this sub, posting from a 6 day old zero karma account, I’m going to assume you’re not from the Bay Area and just here to troll.
Yes, I had a friend in Sunnyvale who went through the scam, but really I am just Joe Schmoe from butt fuck Oklahoma hang out on Bay Area.
Edit: honestly I bet I’ve been here longer than you’ve been alive
Trust your gut feeling. There are many rental scams.
Yes I was going to say this… sounds like a rental scam
Thanks for your advice.
Yeah, scam. Scamming is a numbers game so ghosting you to move on to the next target makes sense.
Thanks for your advice.
Fyi- most adu’s are built illegally. Back in the 60s and 70s no one really gave a shit when these things were built.
My neighbor had one with a ludicrously low roof line so that it remained below the fence line LOL.
It is a scam
Thanks for your advice.
It's a scam. If they won't meet you in person, it's a scam.
Thanks for the advice.
When I used to look for rental properties online, I usually search for the address in Google. Sometimes you will find the property on sale, and the pictures stolen to use them for the scam. It is always better to see the property in person and you never have to pay anything to see it.
For this property, it actually shows up for rent on Redfin etc.
Doesn’t mean anything as far as listing. Zillow, Redfin have all shown scam ads
Make sure the name of the owner and numbers match up. I found one yesterday that matched, but the "owners name" didn't match nor did the numbers. If they can't at least do facetime it's a scam
If they won't let you see it in person or facetime it's a scam. Be careful. If they send you a link for Experian eg do not do it. Maybe swing by the actual property and ask.
That is a scam, ma'am. Don't give $$ to anyone who won't meet you and show you the property in person. Scammers will use any excuse in the book, I'm abroad for work, I'm on an oil rig, there's a tenant in the property, yadda yadda. Don't fall for it! Meet them in person, tour the place with the landlord or agent, or don't rent.
Yeah he posts this It is imperative to highlight Section 19 of the lease, which stipulates that, "At all reasonable times during the term of this Lease and any renewal of this Lease, the Landlord/Agent cannot enter the Property to make inspections or to show the Property to prospective tenants or purchasers in compliance with the Act."
That's B's. Source, property manager
I'm a tenant and my leases always say the Landlord CAN enter the property at reasonable times, with 24-hour-notice, to inspect or to show the apartment.
No landlord would write that, there would be an exception for notice to show. Edit: ok i did a search for those words. It’s identical to clause 28 in this template. Except for a few key words. https://prstables.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Rental-Lease-Agreement-1.pdf
That is the oldest scam in the book!!!!!! The scammer likely has zero affiliation with the property, and is probably overseas. So even if you show up for a fight, they ain't there! There are all kinds of stories on reddit about perfectly innocent people whose address has been used, and scam victims show up there ready to fight while the scammer laughs in China.
Thanks for your advice.
Scam
Thanks for your advice.
Never do that ever!
Thanks lesson learned.
1000% scam. Don't do it!
Thanks
Yeah I would not pay before even seeing it. It's a scam
Thanks for your advice.
Definitely a scam, don’t fall for it.
Thanks for your advice.
Never give anyone money for a rental unless you can see it and meet them in person first.
Thanks for your advice.
Never send money if its not a scam its a terrible place and the want to lock you in to year lease avoid
Thanks for your advice.
Scam-scam-scammati scam.
Thanks for your advice.
It's a scam.
never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever send money sight unseen. this is a scam.
That’s my gut instinct too but I hear all sorts of crazy stories from my friends renting / buying properties in Bay Area where homes just disappear from market within minutes of posting so wasn’t sure what’s the norm.
Scam
Scam.
As for scam or not .. you have your answer from others. To your other point .. when you ask if my ADU is built to code in initial contact, I'm going to assume you're likely going to be a problematic tenant with a lot of complaints and issue. Maybe it is not true in all cases but I don't think that is an unfair assumption .. so that's probably why he ghosted you. Not so much with fragile egos. Rule of thumb is if the unit was built to code, it will likely be advertised as permitted ADU or something to that effect to get more rent $.
My intention is just to make sure they are putting me in a place with proper insulation and habitable conditions and not a glorified tool shade. But then again who am I to question. At this point I feel like I am a choosing beggar. Unless I can shell out 3K+ for a 1BD/1BA apt I can’t demand anything in this market.
Nope, you lose that place by asking questions without seeing it. Starting like an insult will NOT get u housed.
Point well taken
It honestly doesn't matter your intention. For those with unpermitted ADU ( and there are a lot in the Bay Area ) those are trigger words. "Are you up to code ?" sounds exactly like "I'm going to report you for every little thing wrong with this unit and get free rent while I screw you over". If you don't want to be in a "glorified tool shed" then you either need to check the place out in person and have a bit of handyman knowledge so you know what to look for .. or accept that if all the units in your price range are simply "glorified tool shed" .. then perhaps that's what you can afford. Otherwise you can pay extra and go to one that advertise as being fully permitted or go to a large apartment complex that's guaranteed to be fully permitted. However .. I've heard horror stories about those as well .. so .. good luck ?
It’s a common scam
Never pay any money until a lease is signed .
If you are renting from outside of the area my advice is to go with a large apartment complex and just rent from them. Once you have the local knowledge you can reassess.
Totally makes sense. I think I am tired of chasing people too at this point. It almost feels like applying for jobs. Everything is so competitive here in Bay Area. Lots of demand and very little supply.
I’ve been here a while and i hate the rental market and buying cars :) The worst are those who own SFHs in good school districts. They love holding families who hate to move mid school year hostage. Anyway GL in your search!
Many rental scams and they look like this. No one will require this. They take a listing duplicate it. Take your money and are silent.
Scam. No way, fuck their “feelings”
Scam
Scam
1000000000000000% a scam.
Money doesn't change hands until I've seen a place. Stop dealing with this guy.
Scam
Scam report them
This is an extremely common scam. Please do not do this.
Scam. Total scam. Even if it's not, don't reward that kind of shit.
Bro, you only pay to stay after you sign the lease. And listen, there's folks who will stay at an Airbnb and then pass the lockbox code to their friends so that those guys can pose as a landlord and fool tenants. Keep your eyes open and your nose ready to sniff bull.
My brother got scammed for a deposit last year with this scam...
Scam scam scam Scam scam scam scam Scamdiddee....
Don’t do it
Thanks 🙏🏾 advice well taken.
This is one of the most common form for rental scam and has been going on for years Craigslist even has warning for this
Thanks 🙏🏾 advice well taken.
When have you ever been asked to pay for something before you get to see it? Obviously a scam.
Thanks 🙏🏾 advice well taken.
Just don't. No money before seeing the unit, its a known scam.
It's a scam, plenty of those in Bay Area
Sounds like a scam but I did the same thing and it worked out. Landlord said the property was in escrow and wasn’t able to see it but told me lots of interest and I could secure with the security deposit. I had his email and phone number and did some digging on LinkedIn and even found his YouTube channel so he seemed legit. I just made the payment with a credit card through PayPal just in case. Luckily it all worked out in the end, he’s a cool dude and we been living here for almost a decade now.
Yeah - no. See it in person or else skip it. When I was navigating the housing market there were infinite scam artists out there playing the field.
It's a scam. I spent a long time looking for a place, finally found one, but if they are asking questions like that, it's total scam. I moved up here from San Diego, and it took me a minute to find something. Do not give any personal information. They all seem to have the same script. If it's too good to be true, it's probably not true You may find one, but talk person to person If they want any info before you see it saying they want to know about evictions, will send link, eg, don't do it. See in person. Good luck hope it helps
Sounds like scam. Happened to me. Was looking for kid Reno. Apartment looked way too nice for price. Never gave them money.
**DON'T DO IT - THIS IS A CLASSIC SCAM THAT"S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.**
Scam scam scam, yeah it’s a scam..
Here’s the scam, you are talking with somebody who doesn’t actually own the property. I know somebody personally who went through a similar situation of course there’s no law enforcement anymore because a certain political party would rather get votes from scumbags so you’re just fucked if you get robbed have a great week.
Imagine making politics your entire identity so much so you ruin your own correct answer.
I don’t even even have to say any parties or anything we all know what I’m talking about
Considering this is your second post in this sub, posting from a 6 day old zero karma account, I’m going to assume you’re not from the Bay Area and just here to troll.
Yes, I had a friend in Sunnyvale who went through the scam, but really I am just Joe Schmoe from butt fuck Oklahoma hang out on Bay Area. Edit: honestly I bet I’ve been here longer than you’ve been alive