Los Angeles Residential Management News – More Fake Rental Ads Are Flooding the Local Market

One of the top stories in Los Angeles residential management is that the specter of fake rental ads is flooding the local rental market once again.

Sadly, fake rental ads pop up every time we have a hot rental market because more renters than ever before are searching for affordable rental properties and sometimes those renters will fall for scams in the hopes of finding affordable rentals.

How to Spot Fake Rental Listings

The quickest ways to spot fake rental listings include the following signs:

Lack of representation – It doesn’t matter if the owner claims to be a missionary in Africa or not if they don’t have anyone available to show you the rental property this is generally a sign that the listing is a scam and you should pass it up.

They ask you to mail them the deposit – Another great way to know if a rental listing is a scam or not is if the “owner” asks you to mail them your deposit or pay online. You should NEVER pay for a real estate until you’ve met the owner or property manager in person and have signed a contract.

Too much personal information is asked of you – Last of all, if the “owner” of the property asks for too much personal information from you like your current address, social security number or other information, this is another great sign that the ad is a scam and you should stop all conversation with them immediately.

If It’s Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is

Like your parents may have once said “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is” and the same applies to suspicious rental listings online.

Always protect your best interests and go the extra mile to protect yourself from scammers who won’t think twice about taking advantage of you.

Get Property Management Here

Do you own rental properties in Los Angeles? For professional property management contact Utopia Property Management today by calling us at (800) 294-4656 or connect with us online.