When you discover the best Lewes rental home, it can be a joyous moment. However, when examining the floorplan, neighborhood, and lease terms, don’t forget to check any rental listing for warnings that it’s a scam. Disappointingly, rental scams are widely common, perpetrated by dishonest landlords and fake rental listings attempting to scam potential tenants out of their hard-earned money. That’s why it is vital to keep informed and research any rental property carefully. By knowing the red flags to look for and what to do if you feel you’ve spotted a scam, you can avoid falling victim to a rental scam situation.
Common Rental Scams
While there are several different means that scammers try to delude people into giving them money, there are some common rental scams you should be aware of. Possibly the rental scam people encounter most often is where a person claiming to be a landlord advertises a property they don’t own, or that doesn’t exist.
Another typical tactic is to create wrong or downright fabricated advertising for a property that does exist but is not owned by the person listing the home for rent. These scammers may begin to pressure you into sending them a deposit right away or try to rush you into signing lease documents without touring the rental property first. Regrettably, it’s estimated that as many as 5.2 million renters have been scammed out of money by fraudulent listings.
Watch for Warning Signs
To prevent being scammed, there are always certain warning signs that things aren’t quite okay. If you’re aware of what these signs are, you can spot a rental scam before you get caught in it.
Basically, you need to do your research. Examine the ad thoroughly for spelling errors, vague information, or a deal that sounds too good to be true. Chances are if it seems like an incredible bargain, it’s undoubtedly a scam. It is essential to talk to a professional Lewes property manager on the phone and arrange to view the property in person. If they demand a deposit first or claim to be out of the country, both of those are big red flags.
The same scenario applies if the landlord insists on dealing only in cash or asks for a wire transfer. In the first case, cash-only rentals are unethical and likely illegal, so ignoring them is a good idea. Requesting a wire transfer is a tactic commonly used by scammers because, like cash, wire transfers are unrecoverable once sent. Despite the amount of money they demand, never give a landlord a deposit without signing a lease first.
Best Practices for Safe Renting
One of the safest approaches to avoid getting scammed when you hunt for a rental home is to go through a reputable management company. Although local property management operations may provide a few listings, there is still no guarantee that they would devote themselves to fair, ethical rental practices. The safest course of action is to choose a company with national credibility and a reputation for high-quality customer service. What is more, choosing the right property management company to rent from can make finding and renting your new home uncomplicated, minimizing your options to only those that fit your budget and lifestyle. This is the smarter and more efficient way to locate your next rental home.
If you want to acquire a new rental home but want to steer clear of any scams or misleading ads, your best option is to contact Real Property Management Diamond. We are a top-ranking national company with local offices, the best of both worlds: you’ll get local rental market expertise from a respected organization you know you can count on. Contact us today or check out our rental listings online.
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