Apartments for Rent Made Easy

When it comes to marketing your apartments for rent, generating an organic foundation of buzz is a key component to staying afloat in this digital age of social media. Word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful tool that is virtually limitless! Below are some examples of getting the ball rolling on your word-of-mouth campaign.

Ask current residents for referrals:
A satisfied resident is more likely to be willing to tell their friends, family and colleagues about your properties. People who hear about you from someone they know personally are generally more willing to check out your properties. Offer an incentive such as a coffee card or a pre-loaded laundry card. The amount doesn’t have to be exorbitant – just enough to show your appreciation.

Utilize Facebook and other social media:
Never underestimate the power of social media! Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other sites are excellent resources when reaching your target audience. If someone “likes” you on Facebook, all of their friends will see your name. Pinterest, in particular, is a rapidly expanding social media site that allows you to showcase your creative side. Not only can you create picture boards with photography of your rental properties, but you can take the opportunity to showcase the neighbourhoods as well. Post photos of local restaurants, coffee shops, gyms – anything that will show off the amazing location!

Research your online reputation:
What are people saying about your company and your properties? A Google search can lead you to comments and opinions that you may not have been aware of previously. Search Google at least once a month to monitor what people have to say about you. Keep a list of recurring issues and hold a meeting with your property managers to go through it. Although some criticisms can be classified as “venting”, feedback can be extremely insightful and helpful in the process of bettering your rental property.

Get your team on the same page:
Ensure that everyone on your team is speaking the same language when it comes to your properties. What are your strengths? What do you offer that other rental properties do not? If everyone is putting the same word out there, your reputation will grow quickly and efficiently.

Newsletters:
A newsletter is a great way to stay in touch with your current and prospective residents. Post it on your website, link to it on Facebook and Twitter and make it available in your properties. The more accessible you are, the more your residents will feel a personal connection to you. Build community by profiling residents; announcing milestones like birthdays, marriages and babies; announcing upcoming property events; and promoting the businesses of renters.

Tell friends and family:
Simply letting your own friends and family know about your company is an excellent way to get your name out to prospective renters. If they know someone who is looking for an apartment, they can let them know about your company. The word will spread from there!

Happy Summer Season & Happy Renting!

The RentSeeker.ca Team

March is here and Spring is near!

We’re well into the New Year and hopefully, you’ve been following our blog posts about apartment rentals or reading about some of our new ventures in press releases. Maybe you’ve seen us building up our epic Twitter fan base or getting shout-outs in the Toronto Star, Globe & Mail, Yahoo! News or Canadian Newcomer Magazine. Regardless of how you’re finding out more about us, we’re just happy to have your attention. While you’re here, we’re going to take the opportunity to update you on what’s been happening here at RentSeeker.ca.

To keep apartment hunters/rentseekers up-to-date, we’re upgrading and updating our website on a round-the-clock basis. Recently, our team at RentSeeker.ca did some research by surveying a group of post-grads and came up with a handful of ways to make a design statement out of your apartment rental “digs”. And, for those colder days, we’ve listed several do-it-yourself ways to stay warm—just by insuring your apartment is properly insulated.

And of course on behalf of our wonderful clients, RentSeeker.ca continues to come up with new marketing ideas and features for renters ranging from seniors and students to Canadian newcomers. Because the population of Canada will grow by ten percent between 2006 and 2017, we’ve been explaining to apartment landlords that nation’s combination of a low birth rate and an aging population leaves the newcomer audience a market too large to overlook. And, as for seniors, the baby boomer demographic is the fastest growing group to jump on the computer technology bandwagon.

The RentSeeker.ca Team are also a fond of other online marketing tools like regular press releases, which we use as a way to promote new and existing clients as well as cool new features we’ve added and continue to add to our menu of marketing services. To kick off the New Year, we announced the launch of an exclusive video hosting/marketing website for our apartment videos to promote rental listings and apartments for rent via video marketing on behalf our clients. Now, in addition to providing landlords with video production services, which includes scripting, professional photography/filming, narration, music and extensive branding and marketing, RentSeeker.ca has developed a space that solely showcases these property videos.

Also, this past December, we were excited to congratulate a number of our clients on their FRPO MAC Award wins: CAPREIT, Minto, Greenwin, Tandem Group, Medallion Corporation, Briarlane, Timbercreek Asset Management, Concert Realty, Realstar Management and Greenrock Property Management.

Finally, thanks to our loyal clients and the industry’s growing group of social media enthusiasts, RentSeeker.ca has received some generous kudos itself: We’ve been featured across the board in publications like Canadian Apartment Magazine, FRPO’s FE Magazine, GTAA’s Building Blocks, the Toronto Star, Globe & Mail, Yahoo! News, and Canadian Newcomer Magazine, where we’ve been positioned as a leader in integrating apartment searching with videos and social media marketing.

On our agenda for the remainder of 2012 includes iPad / iPhone apps, new tracking tools, and some other exciting services and features we look forward to sharing with our followers and clients, so stay tuned!

Here’s to another great year!

-The RentSeeker.ca Team

There’s nothing worse than being treated as though you’re something that you’re not. It’s like being back in highschool and getting scolded when you’re not the one doing the talking. For baby boomers, it’s being marketing to as though the deathbed is behind the next door. There is a common misconception among rental market advertising that seniors are out of touch, that they’re not as actively involved online and that they’re not nearly as important an audience as their kids and grandkids.

On the contrary, the baby boomer demographic is the fastest growing group to jump on the computer technology bandwagon, spending a whopping $7-billion annually online. In other words, much like 18-34 year olds, this generation is completely open-minded when it comes to new products, lifestyles and marketing.

When it comes to marketing your available apartments for rent, you would be wise to allocate a fair amount of resources targeting this demographic, providing your property can cater to some very high expectations. Throughout your campaign, though, keep in mind that you’re not advertising to a sleepy audience, but rather, a lively, virile group with discerning tastes and extensive wish lists.

Marketing Professor Tom Barry of SMU’s Cox School of Business urges companies to focus the message on feel age as opposed to real age, explaining, “Use models that are cognitively younger; they don’t have to look younger, but have a persona that is psychologically younger.” In other words, he says, the content of advertising, sales, and marketing messages should be based on the cognitive state of the audience. Age, after all, is nothing but a number, so if you’re marketing rental suites to this demographic as old or elderly, you’ve alienated the majority of your audience.

The key to advertising rental units to seniors is research, in addition to knowing what, exactly, your building has to offer that might be attractive to someone in this demographic. If you’re feeling slightly out of touch, here are some tips on how to engage baby boomers, capture their attention and get them in for an apartment showing.

Go Live
Did you know that the largest percentage increase in Internet use has been credited to the 70-75 age group? And they’re not just checking into an email account that stays open all day. Rather, they’re on Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites. Don’t believe us? Take it from the pros then: Kinesis Inc., a Portland, Oregon, web design and branding firm, found that more than 60 percent of baby boomers actively consume socially created content like blogs, videos, and podcasts. So next time you’re posting, tweeting or liking, don’t forget to consider whether grandma or auntie would find your content interesting.

Advertise with Intelligence
We all know that advertising apartments for rent is becoming more and more of a web-based phenomenon. This is not to say, however, that print ads have become obsolete. Baby boomers are still heavily reliant upon magazines and newspapers to get their information, meaning that certain dailies and monthlies could have a positive impact on getting traffic to your property. When targeting seniors in particular, it’s important to take several technical items into account, namely font size. Simply put, the font should never be smaller than 11-point and color ads always attract more attention. Also, keep ads un-cluttered with a clearly marked call to action that includes both email, address and phone number.

The photos should do the talking—but keep them honest. We’ve seen enough old people playing tennis and laughing by a pool. Get creative by promoting what your company can do to enhance their lives. Do you offer a shuttle bus for errands? Is your rental property near a fitness facility? Tell the story, but do it in a way that isn’t patronizing or alienating. This means abandoning labels like “golden years” and “elderly”.

Don’t forget to ask advertisers if they’ll give you editorial space alongside the ad to showcase the property in greater depth.

Build Trust with Customer Service
The baby boomer generation has been around a while. They’ve had more experiences than most of us, meaning you’ll be hard pressed to pull the wool over their eyes. The truth is, the best thing your leasing agent can be is his/herself, to sell the property and the surrounding neighbourhood as a “package deal” that caters directly to the prospect. This means adding a personal touch by doing some legwork to find out about the appealing features of the area and promote them.

Build rapport by letting the individual know that their landlord is just a phone call away should any concerns in their rental unit arise. Another way of doing this is by having honest testimonials by like-minded individuals ready to share at some point during the viewing process. You might even host a baby boomer event and invite some prospects to come along. This is a great opportunity for current residents to speak to their experiences with the property, the management and what the community has to offer.

Finally, always follow up with a note. Handwritten is a unique way of engaging, but again, this is a demographic that’s heavily involved online—email is just as acceptable.

Sell Gently
Hard sells rarely work with this group. Again, they’ve been around a while and have seen it all. One of the most effective tools of persuasion is honesty and compassion. If a person of this age group is moving into your rental property, chances are, they’re downsizing from a house. This could be a giant lifestyle change whereby moving means culling decades of possessions in order to accommodate a smaller space. Perhaps your leasing agent has gone through a similar experience and can empathize as a way to reassure the individual that your property is the right move. If you have storage units available for rent, promote them (and perhaps offer a deal on the monthly fee).

Cut a Deal
Everyone likes a bargain—and many landlords are offering deals to all demographics as a way to fill available apartment units. Purveyors of apartments that cater to baby boomers have jumped on the bandwagon, offering a range of bonuses and incentives to make prospects feel as though they’ve made the right choice by signing with your company. These incentives include rent reduction, waiving of move-in fees, gift cards, fitness memberships, and the list goes on. Put in the work and make the extra effort to get this age group into your apartment building. In the long run, they make loyal residents who are with your for the long haul, and care for your property just as much as you do.

The RentSeeker.ca Team

We’ve all been there: the bachelor apartment, the junior one bedroom apartment, the couch crash… Living in a small space is a rite of passage for most city dwellers whether it’s student housing or a more permanent setting. In fact, as the demand for housing continues to grow at an alarming rate, apartment and condo developers are cramming as many units as they can into one building, making small spaces the new norm.

Having grown up in the apartment industry, I’ve seen a lot. Some residents are downsizing from houses and attempt to recreate the look of their former home in less than a thousand square feet whereas others are so overwhelmed by the new layout that they default to the basics: bed, chair, table, lamp and television. In a recent conversation, Jenn, a resident at 88 Erskine Ave. in Toronto, explained, “My suite felt so empty when I first moved in. I was just out of university and had no furniture. Slowly but surely, I began to collect small-scale pieces that made me feel at home. It just took longer than I had expected to find the right stuff.”

On the other hand, Sharon, another resident, explains that moving into an apartment later in life meant paring down to maximize the space. “It was really tough at first to get rid of so many things that I’d lived with for so long.” Nevertheless, she expressed that adjusting to a rental unit wasn’t easy. Six years later, though, she can’t bring herself to making the leap into the housing market. “I love my apartment. It’s my home now. Every day I come home to this cozy space where I’m surrounded by the things that mean the absolute most to me. I honestly can’t picture myself anywhere else at this point.”

I’ve spoken to many residents, students and young professionals in particular, who are desperate to make a rental unit their own, but shy away from decorating because they can’t shake the thought that renting is impermanent. In other words, their thought process is ‘I’m not here forever, so what’s the point of making the effort?’ According to cognitive engineer Don Norman, whose career credits include stints at Apple and Hewlett-Packard, surrounding yourself with items that are beautiful, functional and reflective can have a positive impact on your cognitive ability.

At the 2003 TED conference, Norman presented Three Ways Good Design Makes you Happy, which suggests that simple, subtle and pleasant things relate to emotions. Offering a personal example, he tells the story of purchasing a gold-plated special edition juicer produced by French product designer Philippe Starck. The product, he admits, sits in his entry way for all to see. It’s not used to make juice, but rather, as an object that’s simply pleasing to look at. He proceeds to talk about owning a knife produced by renowned knife company Global, remarking that the item has everything because it’s beautiful and functional. “I can tell you stories about it,” he says, “which makes it reflective.” Not to mention, it works like a charm.

Whether you’re well-versed in the elements and principals of design or flat-out indifferent to what colors work where and why, it can be reassuring to know that even a rented apartment can incite feelings of happiness and belonging—it’s just a matter of maximizing the space by filling it with functional pieces and items that carry meaning for you. Take Norman’s advice, for instance: When you have a positive reaction to something, your brain produces dopamine, which in turn can have a motivating effect. He argues, “If you’re happy, things work better because you’re more creative.”

I’ve lived in more apartments than I care to count, each one differing in size and layout from the next. My two saving graces have been forced open-mindfulness and “borrowed” inspiration. Fine, I admit it. I’m a copycat. If I had my way, I’d spend all my time in home décor stores trying to find ways to re-create the look of my home with things I already have. But really, what idea isn’t a permutation of something that already exists? In a world of HGTV and IKEA, we have the luxury of letting someone else be the expert. In this case, Norman’s expert emphasis on selecting items that cause a person to reflect on some level resonates.

We all have memorabilia, things we hold onto for emotional reasons. Why keep them boxed up in your apartment building’s storage area? With the current design trend being reclaimed everything, start your shopping at home. Frame old news clippings and tickets and hang them on the wall; make a shadow box of a family heirloom and display it; make a side table out of vintage suitcases. Once you start experimenting and surrounding yourself with possessions that carry meaning, the décor direction will tend to follow. Suddenly, you might find yourself, like Sharon, wanting to spend a wee bit more time in that place that was never meant to be permanent.

Regarding furniture placement, window treatments and color, try sticking to some simple guidelines:

1. Aim High: Hang floor-to-ceiling curtains in a sheer, light material like linen to create a sense of height and draw the eye upwards. Check out Home Outfitters (www.homeoutfitters.com), which carries luxury items at affordable prices by designers like Brian Gluckstein.
2. View Finder: If the view from your apartment isn’t appealing, place some green plants or pretty flowers along the windowsill. Grocery stores like Metro carry lots of options, including low-maintenance orchids, for less than $15.
3. Open Minded: Keep the space airy and open by selecting tables and chairs constructed out of clear materials like glass and acrylic. Mirrored surfaces also reflect light and give an illusion of depth.
4. Lighten Up: Apartments aren’t typically equipped with the best lighting, so it’s up to the renter to brighten the space with table lamps and floor lamps. Lots of light will work wonders for the coziness of the unit. Progress Lighting and Hampton Bay, both found at Home Depot (www.homedepot.ca), carry hundreds of styles—with many in the $10 to $20 range!
5. Work the Magic: Lighter colors of paint reflect light and produce an illusion of space. If your landlord permits, paint the walls with soft tones or shades of white to trick the eye into thinking the apartment is larger than it really is.
6. Weigh Your Options: The scale of furniture matters, so if you’re looking for a new sofa, keep the size of the room in mind. Oversized furniture will overwhelm the room, actually making it appear smaller. Stores like IKEA (www.ikea.ca) and Urban Brick (www.thebrick.com) have mastered the art of furnishing apartment-sized spaces practically, stylishly and affordably.
7. Forms with Function: Decorate with your needs in mind. Make sure that each item serves a purpose and fits with the others and use multi-function furniture like pullout beds in bachelor apartments and ottomans with storage to hide clutter.

Thanks to Jessica Green of Greenwin Inc. for contributing to this article.

-The RentSeeker.ca Team

Turning up the Heat on Fire Safety in Your Rental Apartment

An astonishing number of Canadians in rental apartments across the country are affected every year in fires, whether accidental or electrical. During 2009 Toronto Fire Services responded to 142,014 calls with 278,271 vehicle responses. The causes range from smoking, appliances, cooking, candles, lamps and garbage disposal to electrical issues within the building complex. However, no matter what the cause, the impact on both renters and property management can be devastating.

Avoiding fires and fire damage in your rental complex is possible—it just requires some thoughtfulness and planning on your part. By taking just a few precautionary steps, you can protect yourself, your family and other renters in your apartment building.

First, it’s important for apartment renters to maintain open levels of communication with the management. Find out about your building’s fire safety features by asking your building manager or superintendent about how the property is protected in the event of a fire. Oftentimes, your move-in package will contain information of this nature, including locations of alarms, sprinklers, emergency exits and fire extinguishers. Apartment buildings higher than 12 storeys must have a voice communication system.

A key feature to look for inside your rental unit is whether there is at least one working smoke alarm (typically, alarms will have a test button). The Ontario Fire Code stipulates that every home must have one working smoke alarm. Ideally, however, you should have one in every room in your unit with the exception of kitchens, bathrooms and closets.

According to the City of Toronto’s Safety and Fire Prevention Services, most fatal fires happen at night when people are sleeping. This means that a working smoke alarm will detect smoke and alert you accordingly. Just be sure to change the batteries regularly. If the alarm is more than five to 10 years old, it’s time for a new one. Finally, never disable the smoke alarm in your apartment. If you find that steam from your shower or proximity to the kitchen is tripping the alarm, consult with your building’s management on re-locating it.

As fires spread quickly leaving apartment renters little time to act, this forward-thinking mentality is of the essence—even if you’re renting in a lower-level or basement apartment unit. Ask yourself the following questions:

What is my escape route?

What if my main escape route is blocked by smoke?

Do I have an alternate escape route if my primary route is blocked by fire or smoke?

Be prepared with at least two escape routes that do not include the elevator.  Having an escape route might be the difference between life and death for you and your family.

Did you know that most people die from smoke inhalation rather than the fire itself? This is why having a roll of duct tape, which is available at hardware stores, is absolutely necessary as it can block smoke from entering your apartment through door cracks, vents and other openings.

Here are some other tips to consider:

Never smoke in bed. If possible, always smoke outside and ensure that your cigarette is fully extinguished on completion. When in doubt, douse them in water.

Examine electrical outlets regularly. If a cord is warm or a plug is blackened, contact your apartment building’s management or an electrician.

Never leave items cooking on a stove unattended.

Ensure candles are fully extinguished and trim their wicks if they are producing large flames.

Keep lamps a safe distance from curtains and heating sources.

Never dispose of burning materials in the garbage disposal.

Consider obtaining tenant’s insurance for damage to your belongings and, where applicable, the belongings of others and the rental property.

Fires in both highrise and lowrise apartment buildings can happen at any moment, which is why you must always have a fire safety plan. Speak to your landlord or local fire department for tips on how to keep you and your family safe.

The RentSeeker.ca Team

“Apartments for Rent Made Easy”



Part 1:

One of the most challenging and intriguing problems that face potential short term renters is deciding on the type of apartment they want to rent.

One consistent area of interest we often hear feedback from is the choice option between furnished and un-furnished apartment rentals. The sacrifice or trade-off between quality and cost could make the decision making process somewhat intriguing.   If you’ve been shopping around for furnished apartments in Toronto on RentSeeker.ca, or in any city in Canada, you probably will have noticed that the asking price for one is more then then unfurnished apartments. This might actually be pretty good value and is due to a number of reasons. In order to properly and fairly assess the value of a furnished apartment, it is worthwhile to understand the landlord or building manager’s perspective. From the owners perspective, an individual looking to rent a furnished apartment is someone who probably wants to be catered to, and is likely only there for a short time. S/He would probably expect that the utility bills be set up under the landlords name instead of having to deal with the headaches themselves. While this might not be the case in your particular circumstance, this is sometimes an assumption. Let’s break down some of the the cost factors and value:

• New Furniture

The Landlord will buy furniture to place into the apartment. This can range anywhere from a simple couch, table and chairs to full towel service, free TV and the more. Whatever it is, understand that the landlord has to charge more for these additional expenses

• Repairs.

You might be the nicest most considerate guy, the type of person that never puts down a glass without first placing a coaster; however the landlord will operate under the assumption that some furniture is bound to get damaged and will increase his price to cover any real or imagined damage. This might be able to negotiated, as some landlords would prefer a security deposit and if there are no damages would refund it at the end of the lease period. Consider if it would be easier to pay a lump sum upfront and possibly have it returned, or to pay a little more every month.

• Short term.

As we said, most furnished apartment rentals in the GTA as well as nearly everywhere are for the short(er) term, this means that in between every tenant, the landlord must go in to the apartment, and in most cases, paint all the walls, and hire professional contractors to enhance the suite appeal. In a typical unfurnished apartment rental, the tenant is usually there for a much longer period of time making theses checks more infrequent and thus less of an expense from an owners perspective.

• Utilities.

Sometimes a short term tenant does not want to deal with the hassle of setting up his or hers own account with electric hydro gas etc. The landlord will often set up the features under their name and estimate the approximate usage and / or by passing the bill on to the tenant. Many unfurnished apartment rentals in Toronto and other cities include hydro in the rent.

While the price of a furnished apartment will probably run you more money per month, the added benefit for short term renters, namely furniture, and also often better service might end up being worth it

PART 2:

So you decided to rent a furnished apartment rental, and are now wondering, what are some of things I need to ask and know. Well, our team here at RentSeeker.ca, came up with some ideas for you:

1. The first question you should ask is for them to give you an itemized list of the furniture that is included in the apartment and the condition that it is in. For example;

• Couches
• End tables
• Bed(s)
• Kitchen table
• Lamps
• Televisions
• Toaster ovens
• Chairs
• Microwave
• Dishes
• Cutlery
• Crib

and…well, you get the idea.

2. Another important question to ask is if the rent price includes the furniture or if there is a separate fee for that. You don’t want to move in only to realize that there is another fee on top of the one you are paying already.  Know how much the total bill would be at the end of every month!

3. Ask  if utilities are included. This can vary by Landlord, so make sure to ASK. The same holds true regarding cable TV, phone lines, etc,.

4. Ask  if there is a security deposit for the furniture. Some landlords instead of charging for repair will often ask for a deposit to cover any potential damage that might accrue. This can work out to your benefit as it means that if you are careful you wouldn’t have to pay anything for repairs. However the downside is that you have to give a lump sum in advance. This is often negotiable so ask your landlord what arrangements you can work out with them.

5. Find out what type of amenities the building and area offer. Sometimes  newer built  furnished property rentals will offer a higher standard of amenities and services on site.

These are some questions we came up with that you might wish to ask your landlord before you commit to  your  rental agreement. Think of your own questions and post them and share them on RentSeeker.ca on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rentseeker — so that others can benefit from your ideas and experiences!

-The RentSeeker.ca Team

“Apartment Rentals Made Easy”

Searching for an apartment to rent in large cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, and cities across Canada becomes slightly more complicated when you have children. As a parent you want to carefully research your options and consider your children’s needs, before committing to a particular apartment.

Find yourself in that position? Firstly, we recommend using an online apartment search service (which is FREE for renters), such as Rentseeker.ca, which will allow you to conduct your apartment search from the convenience of your own home or office, based on your specific criteria. Multiple rental listings can be found in most popular cities across Canada. It will save time, money and effort by having the ability to view details, photos, videos, maps, area amenities, and even the company owner information. With that information all available online at your convenience,  you can route your map and head out to visit the apartments you found fit your criteria.

Here are some more tips you might want to look for when searching for an apartment rental with children or a family in mind:

Safety

As children, we have always been taught safety first. The same holds true in your apartment search. Think of the area that you plan on living in and do some research regarding the neighborhoods reputation. You can also walk around and see whether the place is well kept and maintained. Talk to potential neighbors if you can, and find out how they feel regarding their neighborhood.

Building

Nowadays many buildings come with security features such as concierges, video cameras and security patrols. They are a great deterrent, making it the property less of a target for crime. Rentseeker.ca offers a features on its website that allows you to check off a box that will only show you apartments in your area that have these or similar security measurements.

Street

Parents might also want to consider the location of the apartment in relationship to the street. An ideal location would be an apartment that does not face or back up to a busy street or intersection. However if it must, check to see if it has a fenced in area or backyard where the children can run around in and play safely.

Local Area & Amenities

One of the primary considerations of parents is the location of the apartment. Is it near Schools? Shopping? Transportation?

Rentseeker features  WalkScore in all rental listings. What this does is rate the area in terms of its ease of accessibility to schools, shopping, transportation etc.. When you search for an apartment to rent in any city in Canada, this tool can be a extremely useful to help gather information about the area. Think of the amount of time and effort that can be saved if you find an apartment near your children’s school, rather then having to commute.

With those tips in mind, and using RentSeeker as your source for apartments for rent across Canada, you’ll understand why RentSeeker.ca =  Apartments for Rent Made Easy

The RentSeeker.ca Team

Social Media in Modern Times

Social media sites and online forums were created for groups of people who share a common idea, to be able to gather and talk about what interests them in one convenient area.  But social media isn’t just about that anymore. As the online community continues to grow, and more and more people come to visit your (once) little corner of the internet, social media presents a unique opportunity to many businesses and consumers.

Since Social Media sites bring together a wide selection of people, from across the spectrum of the internet, who all have one common goal, savvy consumers can use the group knowledge to leverage the market in the favor.

Using Social Media to find an apartment

If you’re looking to rent an apartment in Toronto or across Canada, and haven’t done so already, join an online community that specializes in apartment rentals in your area. Once your registered you will be able to talk to fellow renters, and discuss different apartments in your area, and compare things like; prices, layouts, landlords and more. Of the largest social media sites in the world today are YouTube, Twitter & Facebook, all great ways for landlords, companies and apartment seekers to meet and discuss different properties. Check out Rentseeker.ca’s Twitter, YouTube & Facebook pages for more information and discussions about apartments in your area.

Forums

Rentseeker.ca actually has built in social sharing and tenant forums & student forums on their site that allows Students, Tenants and Landlords, to interact with each other in their search for an apartment in Canada.

You can access the forum by logging in at RentSeeker.ca and selecting the links for Tenants, Landlords or Students. RentSeeker, as well as many companies are integrating Facebook and Twitter into their options, to allow you to connect to other renters through an already established medium.

Other Options

When you search for an apartment online, you might also come across reviews written by previous occupants (or sometimes neighbors) of the apartment. While it is a good idea to check out the reviews, keep in mind that it always represents an individual’s view of the apartment. Often what bothers him might not seem like a big deal to you and vice versa.

So join an online network! Its fun and can be greatly rewarding. Tell people what you are looking for, and help other people in their search for apartments. Who knows who or where you next lead can come from. It can be your neighbor, your friend, a future classmate or even a total stranger. Social Media sites present a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of possibilities in the market of your choice and offer apartment seekers a chance to interact with other people who share the same goal as you do.

-The RentSeeker.ca Team

If you’re searching for an apartment and you don’t know what you need to expedite and approve your application process, below is a short list we’ve compiled to help. It pays to be prepared so you don’t lose out on the place of your dreams, when you finally do find your new home. Here’s a list of  some common requirements and why building managers / rental agent ask for these specific items.

Once you understand that the entire reason that Landlords ask for these documents is to protect the building and community of renters,  it’s a little easier to swallow. So here’s the list of requirements and some reasons for why they are required:

An Application:

Most Landlords / Property Management companies will require an application to be filled out with some basic information, as well as some personal and background information.  This is  industry standard and common practice.  It allows the Landlord the ability to research information before renting out a unit, which is a form of extending credit.

Photo ID:

With an application, Landlords will require photo ID to make sure you are who you say you are. It is also in case an emergency were to occur and a Landlord needs to know everybody who lives in the building. Lastly, it’s also very handy if you lose your key and you’re asking for us to let you into your home. We’ve all heard of identity theft and photo ID is a lot safer than non photo ID.

SIN Card (number):

Many Landlords and Property Management companies will ask for your SIN card (number). There’s a reason for that. Your SIN number is the easiest and most accurate way to get your credit check. Yes, with permission, a Landlord can use your name and birthdate to check your credit, unfortunately sometimes without accurate information, even if you do have a credit history, no matching report comes back. This can delay the application process and ultimately moving in to your new place.

Credit Report:

Credit and past payment history is essential to any business and individual. By obtaining a credit report, Landlords can decide who fits their criteria of a financially stable renter, and also verify  employer and previous addresses using the credit report. This is valuable as it provides an independent source of information in an era of cell phone verifications and unverifiable job letters.

Income/Debt Ratios:

Just like a banker assisting with a mortgage, landlords  like to assess if an apartment is affordable for you. There’s a sizeable amount of people who would otherwise get into financial trouble if they were approved for payments that might be too expensive for their lifestyle. Yes,  housing is important but so are groceries and other payments.  A good industry wide rule of thumb is a renter should be paying about 30% of net income to rent (or less if you have other credit card debt or student loans). This amount is “likely” sustainable rent to pay.

Bank Letters:

Landlords, like other businesses that extend credit,  like to check if you have a bank account (hopefully with some money in it). Again this speaks to financial stability and the ability to pay the rent over time. Savings go a long way towards getting your application approved. If you’re a New Canadian with limited, or no job or credit history, this can be a deciding factor for a Landlord to feel assured of financial stability.

Employment Information:

Again, as all businesses that extend credit,  Landlords need to know that you have a source of income to cover the monthly rent and how stable that source is.  If you work for a larger company, speak to Human Resources before applying and fill out the form required by the Privacy Act so they can confirm employment properly. If you are self employed, you will be required to show some proof of income as well. Tax statements,  business bank statements that show regular customer deposits, etc will be requested.

Bottom line:

You Want To Rent and Landlords Want To Rent To You.

The bottom line is Landlords / Property Managers WANT to rent apartments, but cant afford to take risks of dealing with the negative consequences from not doing their due diligince.  It is not an easy process to deal with an eviction and many times could potentially affect other (otherwise good) tenancies within the building as well.

Unfortunately, for the same reason that your bank has you swipe your card every time you do a transaction and every store has security and loss prevention, Landlords also have to double and triple check every piece of information they get. So come prepared and make it easy for the building manager /rental agent to approve your application by providing the necessary documents for them to “approve” it.  Landlords  aren’t being nosey and trying to invade privacy, they just want to provide a valuable service and keep current residents happy. Once you move in, you’ll appreciate the hard work they do to ensure their residents the services they deserve.

Happy Apartment Hunting!

-The RentSeeker.ca Team

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