Why Apartment Listing Websites Aren’t Always Accurate
When it comes time to start apartment hunting, a majority of us head straight to the good old Google search bar to type in “apartments in insert-whatever-city-you-live-in-here”. Typically, this pulls up sites like apartments.com, Zillow, and whatever property is paying a massive premium to the search engine gods to get on top of the list. And typically, a minute or two of browsing leaves you stumped because WTF — the pricing on these sites tends to be way different than the pricing you see on the actual apartment websites. So, what’s actually going on?
The thing about ILS sites
ILS is an acronym for internet listing services — for our purposes, think sites like apartments.com and Zillow. In real estate, properties pay these websites to advertise their communities by featuring photos, amenities, and pricing. No hate, no shade to these sites — they’re actually a great tool for renters to gauge (loose) price ranges and get a feel for properties they’re interested in. But if you’re looking for total accuracy, let’s just say there’s a reason they call it a “Zestimate”.
Q: “How do I get real information, then?”
A: While we wish there was an easy way to get accurate info at the click of a button (trust us, it’d make our jobs a lot easier), it’s not that simple. Apartments lease quickly, and most complexes use algorithms to determine pricing based on a number of factors like occupancy, rates at properties nearby, and in-unit specs. The technology to keep up with real-time changes at every single property just doesn’t exist yet, so the best way to get accurate information is by doing it the old-fashioned way — picking up the phone.
Q. “Who TF has time to call all of those properties?”
A: Apartment locators (a.k.a, us!)
For renters, tagging in a pro with boots-on-the-ground experience in your city is the smartest way to find a place (you wouldn’t try to buy a house without a realtor, right?) Instead of you spending valuable time on the line listening to busy signal jingles, your agent will contact properties to confirm availability, pricing, and schedule tours. The process can be as collaborative as you want, but all you really have to do is give feedback until you find the perfect spot to call home.
Oh, and an apartment locator’s services are completely free to you, the renter.
