Looking for an apartment can feel like a daunting task, but thankfully, there are many apartment renting sites designed to make it easier.
Here are some of the best apartment renting sites to consider, along with some of their pros and cons. With the help of these sites, apartment searching can feel a little less intimidating, and a lot more fun!
Zillow
Perhaps the most popular apartment renting site, Zillow offers a wide variety of listings and detailed information about each property. It’s a site you know you can trust, but some users have reported outdated or inaccurate listings on the site.
Zumper
Zumper is a user-friendly site that allows renters to search for apartments by neighborhood, price range, and other criteria. One downside of Zumper, though, is that there are sometimes a limited number of listings in certain areas.
Renthop
Looking for a site that offers verified listings and a user-friendly platform? Look no further than Renthop, a popular choice for apartment hunters. However, some apartment hunters say it doesn’t have quite as many listings as some other renting sites.
Apartment List
If you’re searching for apartments by location, price, and other criteria, Apartment List is a great site to consider. It also offers a unique feature where renters can apply for multiple apartments at once. The cons of this site are largely related to its search function; a number of internet users have reported experiencing difficulties.
Apartment Guide
Apartment Guide is a comprehensive site with a wide range of listings, including apartments, townhomes, and condos. In some cases, though, there can be a lack of detail in the property listings.
Apartments.com
The name of this site says it all. Apartments.com is a popular resource for apartment hunters, with a large number of listings and a user-friendly interface. However, some users have reported difficulty with the site’s customer service.
Rent.com
Renting an apartment is simple at Rent.com. This convenient site offers a variety of search filters and verified listings, making it a popular choice for apartment hunters. Cons of Rent.com include a lack of detail in the property descriptions.
Rent Jungle
Discover your next apartment at Rent Jungle, a comprehensive apartment renting site that offers a variety of search filters and a user-friendly interface. But sometimes, listings can be outdated or inaccurate.
RentCafe
RentCafe offers a number of pros, including detailed property listings and a user-friendly platform, making it a popular choice for apartment hunters. Cons include users reporting a lack of listings in certain areas.
PadMapper
Looking for your next pad? PadMapper is a popular site that allows users to search for apartments by location, price, and other criteria. Listings aren’t always super detailed, though.
HotPads
With millions of available listings, HotPads offers a user-friendly platform and a variety of search filters, making it a popular choice for apartment hunters. However, some users have reported a limited number of listings.
Craigslist
While not exclusively for real estate, Craigslist is a free classifieds site that allows users to search for apartments, sublets, and roommates. While the site can be useful, it’s the least regulated of all the sites on this list, so every now and then you’ll encounter fake listings, or scam attempts.
Avoiding scams on apartment renting sites
While the sites covered in this post are some of the best apartment renting resources available, and in most cases will be very helpful during search for the perfect apartment, it’s important to be aware of scams, fake listings, and bad landlords. Even the savviest apartment searchers have been scammed on occasion, so here are a few tips for avoiding scams when looking for an apartment:
- Don’t wire money: Scammers may ask you to wire money to secure an apartment, but this is a common scam. Be wary of any landlord or property manager who asks for money before you’ve seen the property.
- Beware of deals that seem too good to be true: If an apartment is priced well below market rate, it’s possible that it’s a scam.
- Research the landlord or property management company: Before signing a lease, research the landlord or property management company to make sure they are legitimate and don’t have a reputation of mistreating tenants.
- Visit the property in person: Don’t rent an apartment without seeing it in person first. If the landlord or property manager won’t allow you to see the apartment, it’s likely a scam.
- Be aware of sponsored listings: Many apartment rental sites will show you the same sponsored listings first, meaning the landlord is paying for placement in your search results. So if aren’t seeing what you like at first, dig a little further to uncover that hidden gem that is waiting for you.
No matter which site you use to land your dream apartment, soon, it will be time to put the stress of the search behind you, and start moving. Enjoy your new abode!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 21, 2016 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
