Helping Renters Find A Home
Those that rent homes have leases. The terms of the lease include, among other things, the amount and term of the lease. In Montgomery County, most residential leases are for one year, although the option of a two year lease is supposed to be offered. There are apartments, condos, town homes and single family homes available to rent in many areas of the county. The majority of apartments are managed by a leasing company and applications are made directly to the resident manager in the on-site office. Other rentals are handled through a myriad of fashions.
Each path to renting presents it's own maze
Depending on the lessor and how the property is marketed, the individual wish to rent has to work through the process. The process may be quite different for different properties. All lessors are not the same. Some property owners decide to go the route of renting the property on their own. They may or may not be complying with local laws. Other property owners will use a leasing company to market their property. These companies will receive applications, process them and then give a report to the owner so that a decision can be made. Most leasing companies will be licensed in the State of Maryland and will be required to follow Federal and Maryland Law. Everyone has to comply with Fair Housing Law. Ignorance of the law is not excused. Personal preference is not acceptable. If you rent, you have to follow the law.
Seems rather straight forward
Why can't you find a real estate agent to help you?
The majority of real estate agents don't work with people that are trying to rent. Now, most will not admit it to you. Most will not admit it publicly. It is a fact. Agents do not want to work with renters. They will use the excuse that they are not "rental certified". Of course, they will also fail to acknowledge that rental certification is more sizzle than steak and if they have a license, they are supposed to be versed in the law regarding rentals and renters.
Some will point out that they are Listing Specialist or Buyers Agents and they want to focus on their specialty. They will offer a multitude of reasons. If you peel back the layers, it comes down to money. Rentals just don't pay enough money they argue. They point to the MLS which includes the offer of compensation from the Listing Broker. It is true that the amounts listed are onerous. Listing brokers do little more than get a signed listing agreement, enter the listing in the MLS database, maybe put a sign out front, leave a lock box on the door and wait. The agent that brings the renter has to go through lots of listings, shows several potential properties and assists the client in preparing the application. When all is said and done, the listing agent may decide to keep 75% of the commission and offer 25% to the agent representing the renter. It is no wonder that a lot of agents balk at working under those terms.
We work with people seeking to rent a home. We have terms of our own. In order for us to accept you as a client, you must:
- Have a verifiable source of income for the last two years.
- Have a decent credit history ( This includes your past rental history)
We represent people that are seeking to rent a home
We happen to be rental certified. We are well versed in the laws in Montgomery County. We represent our clients interest and assist our clients throughout the leasing process. We have a system in place that has worked for many.
Call us directly at (301) 509-5111
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