Can a real estate agent help me find an apartment

Renting an apartment is an exciting (and sometimes stressful) milestone in life. Can you do it yourself, or do you need some help?

With so many apartment complexes on the market, you may wonder if using a realtor for renting is a good idea. People use realtors when buying and selling a home, so would it make sense to use one for renting a new apartment? While there are pros and cons of using a realtor for renting, we are going to discuss why you should not use a realtor for renting.

What is a realtor?

Before we dive into why you should not use a realtor for renting an apartment, let's define what a realtor is and what they do.

Realtors are people who belong to the National Association of Realtors and they may have a variety of titles within the real estate industry. This could include real estate agents, salespeople, appraisers or brokers.

Realtor vs. broker

A broker is an experienced real estate professional who works on his own or has other real estate agents work for him. Simply put, a broker has more expertise in the real estate industry compared to a real estate agent.

While realtor, real estate agent and broker terms often interchangeably, change they each have minor differences that set them apart.

10 reasons not to use a realtor for renting

It may be tempting to use a realtor when renting, but is it really necessary? Here are 10 reasons why we think you shouldn't.

1. Realtors charge a fee for their services

Real estate agents, brokers and realtors all make a living by helping people buy and sell their homes. Usually, they get a commission — money made on the sale of something — in exchange for their services. So, if you use a realtor for renting, you'll likely have to pay them a fee when they find you an apartment.

When you look for an apartment on your own, you won't need to pay a fee and can save money in the process. In some cases, the apartment complex will pay the broker's fee because the broker helped fill a vacancy. However, you need to understand who pays whom if you use a realtor for renting.

2. Renting isn't a long-term commitment

Renting an apartment isn't as big of a commitment as buying a home. Because you sign a month-to-month or year-long lease, you are only committed for the amount of time stated on the lease.

When people work with a realtor to buy a home, it's because they are looking for a long-term purchase and a realtor helps them sift through homes to find the perfect one. Because renting an apartment is usually not a long-term commitment, you don't need as much help.

3. Rentals searches are easy to conduct online

With the help of the internet, you can search for rental apartments from your laptop, iPad or phone. For instance, Rent. allows you to search by city, apartment size, budget or number of bedrooms. Because you can choose filters and custom your apartment search on the internet, you don't need a realtor to do that work for you. With a little online research, you can find the perfect apartment for you without the help of a realtor.

4. You know your needs best

You know what you're looking for more than a realtor does. Instead of taking the time to explain to your real estate agent what you're looking for, you can just search for what you want on your own. You can judge yourself if a place is right for you (or not) and save the back-and-forth between you and another person.

5. Rental agreements aren't complicated to understand

Rental agreements or leases are not as complex as the paperwork involved when buying and selling a home. Yes, there is fine print to read through and you should thoroughly understand what you're signing; however, a rental agreement is pretty easy to understand and you don't need to work with a realtor to break down the fine print of a rental agreement.

People sometimes use a realtor for renting to help them understand the paperwork, but because leases are pretty standard, you can break it down yourself.

6. Real estate agents primarily sell homes

Generally, real estate agents buy and sell homes and don't focus on apartment rentals. Because rentals are not their primary focus, they may not know as much about the market and as invested in your needs.

When you hire a realtor, you are paying for their expertise and industry insight. But, you may not get this attention to detail with a rental property because it isn't their primary focus.

7. Using a real estate agent complicates the process

You've heard the phrase, “too many cooks in the kitchen." The same principle applies to involving a realtor when renting — it just involves one more person in the process and complicates things.

Renting by working directly with the landlord or property manager simplifies the process. When you work with a realtor, too, you are adding one more person in the loop to talk with, ask questions to and update. By removing a realtor, you are keeping things simpler.

8. Realtors only use the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Real estate agents have access to a network of apartment listings called the MLS. While this is a great resource, it doesn't include everything that's available to rent in a given area.

If you use a realtor for renting, you may miss out on lots of available places to rent simply because they aren't researching everything and are only sticking to the MLS.

9. Virtual apartment tours happen anytime, anywhere

The internet allows people to take online, digital tours of apartments that are for rent. Because of this, you don't need a realtor to show you the apartment for rent. You can easily take a virtual tour of an apartment you're interested in on your own time and without anyone else's help.

10. Scheduling in-person tours is easy

Most apartment complexes have an on-site property manager whose job includes giving prospective tenants tours of the facility. So, it's easy to schedule a tour of the apartment on your own. You don't need the help of a real estate agent in this case. Save yourself time and energy and book a tour directly with the landlord to see your potential new home.

Pros of using a realtor for renting

We understand that there are some situations where a realtor for renting makes sense. Sometimes, you just need an extra pair of helping hands. Here are a few cases we think a realtor may make sense for finding a new apartment.

• Realtors are great if you want to save time: If you decide to use a realtor for renting, you'll save time and energy. They'll search for available places, inspect the property, talk to the landlord about the fine print, scope the lease and help you understand what you're getting into. If you're in a place in life where you need to save time, you may consider using a realtor for finding an apartment.
• Realtors are great when apartment hunting in a competitive market: If you're looking to move into a big city like Los Angeles, Chicago or New York where the market is highly competitive, it may pay off to use a realtor for renting. In large cities where apartments are in high demand, real estate agents can help negotiate and secure a property more quickly than you could on your own.
• Realtors are a good option if you're relocating to a new city: If you know nothing about the area, real estate agents can help you understand which neighborhoods you want (and which to avoid) and what types of rentals are available.

Renting an apartment for you

If finding an apartment seems like an exciting undertaking, you won't need to use a realtor for renting. However, if apartment hunting seems stressful and overwhelming, a realtor is a good option to consider. Only you know what's best for you and your needs. Renting an apartment is a big decision because it'll become your new home. Before working with a real estate agent, think through these pros and cons and decide what is best for you.