Apartment locators?

[brevity143]

Who has a locator they actually liked? I am moving back to the area after a few years away and my job didn't tell me until last minute so I'm working from 3000 miles away with a week of notice. Difficult!

I know prices have inflated a lot in the last two years and I am at a loss.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Here is what I'm looking for if you have

Comments

[jordanzwei]

I second A Plus apartment locators, they helped us find the perfect apartment when we lived there, and it was fairly painless!

[brevity143]

It turns out the locator I have been working with is from A+ and she only has two suggestions for me in all of Austin. Huh.

[layweed]

Yikes. Is that it? Surely there must be more than two places. $800/mo isn't an unreasonable amount for a 1 bedroom and you're looking pretty much anywhere in Austin.

[brevity143]

Yeah. That's why I'm looking elsewhere. She hasn't been as helpful as I wanted.

[camelot_one]

You have to look at the money. Some locators charge you a flat fee for finding a place. Normally I wouldn't recommend them, But.......
The other option is that they collect a commission from the apartment complex. With the current housing crunch, owners/landlords are beating people off with a stick, so they have no reason to pay outside agents to find them renters. Thus, you end up with a recommendation of just 2 complexes in the entire city. And in the current market, you really don't want to live in a place that needs to pay commission to get people.

[brevity143]

Good point. I didn't even think about that. So I guess I need to refine my search for one who I pay... All the places I'm finding on my own have awful reviews. I know to take these with a grain of salt but roaches and rats are not my cup of tea. :\

[anonymouslie]

You want to contact Jess Fisher at Austin Apartment Specialists. 512.241.1111 or toll free 800.791.0019