Property Finding Services

[bkkjames]

Drew:

I would like to ask you a question. I have been searching many websites over the last few weeks and the one thing I have noticed is that most websites show units that are no longer available.

I do realize that it takes time and manpower to update these sites but I do get a little peeved that they show photos of rooms available but when you contact them it's always the same answer - it's gone but we have others.

I only mention this because of your thoughts about putting photos on Mr Roomfinder.

What would be really helpful to everyone would be to come up with a site that lists all current openings which are updated daily.

In particular, what about a site for condo owners to list their available units.

Surely, owners would line up and pay a small fee for a website that offers current listing information to apt seekers? As an apartment seeker, I bet this would be very popular. It would also cut out the middle men that make apartments more expensive. I would be willing to pay a samll fee to get the list emailed to me daily, it would save me so much time.

Over the years here, it's amazing to find that owners are willing to negotiate a little when you speak to them directly but I am not so sure that property agents are that willing to go to bat for you, even though they get a commission equal to one month's deposit minimum.

I am sure I am not alone in this opinion.

[Drew Aitch]

Hi bkkjames and thanks for you post.

QUOTE: I have been searching many websites over the last few weeks and the one thing I have noticed is that most websites show units that are no longer available. END QUOTE

I’ve already taken the above into account. It’s true what you say and this can be a pain for both tenants and landlords.

I’m in the process of setting up an auto email facility that goes out 4 weeks after the property is listed. This mail simply asks the landlord to either extend the duration of their ad if appropriate or delete it if it has since been let. It then informs them that their entry will be automatically deleted by our system in 7 days if they do not act.

There’s nothing we can physically do to make landlords and agents update, or delete their entries so I think the above is a reasonable compromise and will hopefully keep the listings a bit leaner.

There are also a lot of apartment buildings (as opposed to individual units) listed on the site and these all have direct contact details. Many of these are in the low to mid price range and offer mainly studio accommodation.

As most of these places allow renting on a month to month basis, vacant rooms are coming and going all the time. Therefore, it’s not necessary to update these constantly, just call first to see what’s available otherwise we’d be taking them out and adding them in all the time which would create a real headache.

QUOTE: What would be really helpful to everyone would be to come up with a site that lists all current openings which are updated daily. END QUOTE

Yes, but please remember Mr. Roomfinder is simply a free information website and not a high street agent of any kind. There is no staff, no commissions, and no income generated from this project and your suggestion would require a full time individual to call around updating listings on a continuous basis. Good idea, but not practical with Roomfinder at this point in time.

QUOTE: In particular, what about a site for condo owners to list their available units. END QUOTE

It’s already happening. Most newly added vacancies come from either private landlord or letting agencies acting on their behalf.

Anyone can advertise their property on Mr. Roomfinder. Also, there are no limits as to how many properties an individual or company can upload to the site, and each entry gets its own full page spread with up to 6 colour photos and 1 map.

QUOTE: Over the years here, it's amazing to find that owners are willing to negotiate a little when you speak to them directly END QUOTE

Some of the private owners are open to negotiation with the rent. Many are over ambitious to start with and the longer their place(s) sit empty, there’s a better chance of getting a good deal. Having said that, there are some (with money to burn) that would sooner let their condo(s) sit empty rather than lower the cost of rent. But anyway, it can do absolutely no harm to try and get the price down and everyone should try to negotiate.

QUOTE: I am not so sure that property agents are that willing to go to bat for you, even though they get a commission equal to one month's deposit minimum. END QUOTE

I also heard that property agents receive a commission that’s equal to 1 months rent on the mid to high end properties. In reality, I think theses fees are negotiated on place by place basis and only the agents themselves know what they really get!

Many property agents often have places on their books that are available at a lesser cost than a go-it-alone over ambitious landlord. Some of the rooms I see advertised by private owners on the notice boards of the place I’m residing at are asking incredible rents for mid and long term contracts, whereas the local letting agencies that manage a number of theses condos on behalf of the owners seem to have a more realistic and fixed price for these rooms.

You might want to read the short article here on Letting Agencies: http://mrroomfinder.com/Articles/Roomfinde...tate_Agents.php

Hope that answers your post with some degree of clarity.

As always, feedback is most welcome and I thanks once again for your topic.

Aitch

Edited October 19, 2005 by Drew Aitch