It's easy these days to get scammed with Craigslist rentals. Here are five ways to avoid getting scammed:
1) Do not rent the home until you meet the person and preview the property. One of the most popular scams is when the person on the other end of the phone is claiming to need to rent the house, but they aren't the actual home owner. If the person isn't willing to meet you in person and show you the property, chances are it's a scam. Scammers have gotten crafty over time and will look for homes that are on the market and/or empty, and create rental ads that lure you in.
2) Check and make sure the price they're offering you is right for the market. If it's too goo to be true, that's probably because it is. If you find a home that seems to be too cheap on Craigslist, chances are it's a scma. Check pricing around the neighborhood to be sure you aren't being taken for a ride.
3) Don't wire money or use Western Union. Don't share your bank account information with anyone over craigslist. If the person wants you to wire them the money or have you send a check, don't do it! This is the way the scammers get your money, so don't falll for it.
4) Check the tax records for ownership. Once you find a home you're interested in, get the owners first and last name and go to the local county tax office to make sure that this is their home and it's in their name. Scammers use ficticious persona's all the time, so make sure the person you're talking to actually owns the home you're looking to rent.
5) Check to see if the home is not for sale. As mentioned before, scammers find homes that are newly listed on the MLS and then make and place fake ad's to rent out the home. Check out online websites like Zillow.com or Realtor.com to be sure the house is for sale.
If the person renting the house for a "too cheap" price via e-mail or won't give you a phone number, the odds are that they are trying to rip you off. Use your inituition. If it doesn't feel right then don't go through with it. Save the pain and stress by following these steps.\
If you would like more information about rentals in your local area, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 619-250-4541 or via e-mail at Stephen@StephenNissou.com.
Your Local Real Estate Expert,
No comments:
Post a Comment