williams_birne Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Hello everyone!Our family is moving to Houston soon, for at least 2 years. We plan to rent 2 bedroom townhose/condo at the Midtown area. Our budget is $1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rps324 Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Hello everyone!Our family is moving to Houston soon, for at least 2 years. We plan to rent 2 bedroom townhose/condo at the Midtown area. Our budget is $1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Hello everyone!Our family is moving to Houston soon, for at least 2 years. We plan to rent 2 bedroom townhose/condo at the Midtown area. Our budget is $1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Hello everyone!Our family is moving to Houston soon, for at least 2 years. We plan to rent 2 bedroom townhose/condo at the Midtown area. Our budget is $1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williams_birne Posted February 19, 2005 Author Share Posted February 19, 2005 Thanx for replies and for links! It's important for us to stay in Midtown because it's close to the driveway (don't know exactly which one) that brings my husband to Greenway Plaza, he says it will save a lot of time on commuting. Another reason is that I can't drive ( ) and it will take a while before I learn. To stay sane with two kids I just MUST go out for a walk (to the park or do some small grosseries). As far as I understand Midtown gives this opportunity and in other parts of Houston there is just no place to walk. Prices for electricity are scaring! Otherwise I'm full of optimism. I'm sure we will find something nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volvo99 Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Email me...I'm an apartment locator and I can help you with my FREE of charge service.HaroldRAranda@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Email me...I'm an apartment locator and I can help you with my FREE of charge service.HaroldRAranda@aol.com<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Don't be mislead....there's no such thing as free.....he's going to divert discounts and incentives that would have gone to you into his pockets.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 I used an apartment locator when I came to Houston, and found she was a tremendous help. She faxed me a form with lots of check boxes so I could let her know what was important to me, and told her where I was going to work so she could focus on places near my new job. A few days before I flew into Houston, she faxed me a list of places in my price range. When I arrived at Intercontinental, she picked me up at the airport and she spent almost the entire day driving me around looking at places. At each place we went, there was some little form she filled out which, I think, got her $25 for showing me the place. It was an invaluable service, especially to someone from out of town and I ended up taking a place she recommended. Even though she probably got a cut of that, too, she more than earned it. I only wish I knew the name of the company so I could recommend it to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rps324 Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Don't be mislead....there's no such thing as free.....he's going to divert discounts and incentives that would have gone to you into his pockets....<{POST_SNAPBACK}>The apartment complexes give the same deals to locator "traffic" as non-locator. Apartment owners/managers don't like paying the fee, but it is budgeted into their operating expenses already. Locators in Houston control about 40% of the traffic, so it is a given here for the owners to just pay whether they like it or not. (most don't like it!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volvo99 Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Don't be mislead....there's no such thing as free.....he's going to divert discounts and incentives that would have gone to you into his pockets....Are you talking about the discounts and incentives I negotiate from the property manager on behalf of the renter? Discounts and incentives he might not have been aware were available to him? Did you care to mention the footwork I do in getting to know property managers who work with broken leases and other issues, so renters don't have to waste time going to places that are not going to work with them?Did you also care to mention how, as licensed real estate agents, we also have the ability to help the same customers we took on as renters, purchase a home in the future?You are correct in asserting that nothing is free. However, the fee we earn is a good investment by those properties that choose to utilise our services to fill their vacancies. In today's environment, that is not a small issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rps324 Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 I used an apartment locator when I came to Houston, and found she was a tremendous help. She faxed me a form with lots of check boxes so I could let her know what was important to me, and told her where I was going to work so she could focus on places near my new job. A few days before I flew into Houston, she faxed me a list of places in my price range. When I arrived at Intercontinental, she picked me up at the airport and she spent almost the entire day driving me around looking at places. At each place we went, there was some little form she filled out which, I think, got her $25 for showing me the place. It was an invaluable service, especially to someone from out of town and I ended up taking a place she recommended. Even though she probably got a cut of that, too, she more than earned it. I only wish I knew the name of the company so I could recommend it to you.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>It sounds like you got a good locator, that is the key. Just like any other profession, everyone in the industry is not created equal. Escorting the client is a good sign of a more dedicated one. Unfortunately some just give out a list of apartment names and addresses, then offer to cover the app fee or some other kick-back to encourage the client to put the locator as their referral, whether the property they end up renting was on the locator list or not. Many of the ads in the Greensheet and the Chronicle for apartments are really locator ads. This results in one person sometimes calling more than one locator. If you use a locator, pick one, and if they give you good service, stick with them & put their name on the application so they can get paid. If they don't give you good service, drop them & find one that will. They are out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 actually, if you're going to use anyone. You need to find a 3rd party that has your best interest. So if you're going to use anyone that help meet your needs: use me. I work for you, and not for the sake of a commission. Ricco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williams_birne Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 Actually company my husband works for is gonna provide us a real estate advisor. I just prefer to do my homework before we start looking around so I would have an idea what we need. And in case this advisor has an attitude like "offer them something and get rid of them as soon as possible" I could rely on myself armed with information . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kho786 Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Check out this site...ApartmentWiz.comIt has specials by area for Midtown/Downtown/lofts etc. and other areas. They specialize in inner loop/loft/midtown stuff and get pretty good pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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