Rental Hunting: First Contact

Finding a rental home or apartment that suits your needs is a daunting task, particularly when disability, children, pets, credit issues, or any combination of the above create additional complexity. I'm seeking a new rental right now. Learn from my mistakes and successes with this series of short articles on the process of finding a rental. This is the third in a series.

With your list of prospects complete, it's time to start getting in touch with landlords and landladies. First, you should draft a form email that you can send to each online listing you saved as a favorite. Start with a polite greeting, adding a name in each individual email if the landlord/lady's name is given in the listing. Then give some information on yourself and your family. You can use the "Housing Wanted" ad you posted on Craigslist as a basis, changing it as needed. Close by thanking the landlord/lady for his or her time. Here's an example:

Dear John,

I saw your Craigslist ad for a two bedroom townhome in Townsville. I'm looking in that area for a pet-friendly rental for myself, my husband, and our two small dogs. I'm a public relations professional, and my husband is in sales. I have a disability and need a rental with no stairs to the front door. Both of us are quiet, private people who want to live in a good neighborhood where we and the dogs feel safe. It looks like the townhome you have listed would meet our needs, and I'd like to schedule a showing. Please call me at 555-5555 or reply to this email with any other photos you have and your availability for a showing. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance for the time!

Thanks,

Jane Smith

Send your letter along to each listing you like. Next, pick out your top 10 favorites from among the online listings that include phone numbers and the highlighted classified ads. Number each ad one through ten so you can take notes and know which property you're referring to. Get a notebook and your phone, and sit down to call each number. The best time to reach someone tends to be mid-morning, but any time between 9 AM and 7 PM is generally appropriate.

If you get an answering machine, leave a brief but detailed message including what property you're calling about, your first and last name, and your phone number. Repeat the phone number at the beginning and end of the message, and ask that the landlord/lady please call you back to discuss the property and possibly schedule a showing.

Similarly, if you get the correct person, focus on introducing yourself and scheduling a showing. Ask any pertinent questions about things that would make the property a no-go, like, "Is it pet-friendly?" or "Is it wheelchair accessible?" If the big questions check out, save smaller questions until after you've seen the property. Your goal now is to schedule several showings in the same couple of days, so as to compare similar rentals side by side without risking losing a property you liked.


Jelena Woehr is a writer working for Disaboom.