With the foreclosure crisis, more people are renting Apartments & single family homes – and this means it is more important than ever for consumers to be savvy and protect themselves. Glasberg Properties offers the following tips for prospective renters to avoid scams.

 

Before renting a house or an apartment from an individual, look for a proof that they own the property. Check public records at the County Assessor’s websites to be sure, and to verify that no Notice of Default (NOD) or notice of a trustee sale has been issued.

 

Beware of anyone who asks you to pay cash or wire money – and if you pay cash by choice, make sure to get a receipt. Wiring money sounds more official than cash but it’s not; there’s no way to trace it. we at Glasberg Properties only accept checks or cash for good faith deposits. all other payments are made online on our site by free EFT (Electronic check) or Major Credit Cards (fee may apply).

 

Be suspicious of a price that seems too good to be true. Try typing the street address into a search engine and see what comes up –legitimate landlords often list properties on multiple sites, so if you find several listings for a property that sounds identical but is several hundred dollars more, you’ve might found some kind of scam.

 

Be aware of the “owner’s” priorities. A legitimate landlord will want to know about your goals in finding a home, and about your rental needs. A scammer will want to get your money. If money seems like a higher priority than anything else, that might be a sign of fraud.

 

Ask a lot of questions – Where will I send my rent? How can I reach someone if you are on vacation? What do I do if I need a plumber? A professional landlord will have already thought through the answers.

 

Red Flags for Renters:

• “Owner” is traveling or working outside of the U.S. and will send you the keys

• The advertising or email response to you contains multiple misspellings and grammatical errors

• The email addresses you as Dear Sir/Madam

• The “owner” uses the title Reverend, Dr., or claims to be a missionary

• Payment of deposit or first month’s rent is requested BEFORE you see the property!!

• “Owner” can’t show you the property or make arrangements for you to tour it

• Price seems surprisingly low for the home offered and the area

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If you do encounter fraud involving an ad for a Glasberg Properties Home, please let us know at Info@Glasberg-Properties.com  Fraud can also be reported to your local law enforcement authority, to the Federal Trade Commission, and to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

 

FTC toll free hotline:

877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357) or www.ftc.gov

Internet Crime Complaint Center www.ic3.gov