There is something to be said about the rapid pace at which technology is being incorporated into our everyday lives, but when it comes to apartment hunting in this city it is shocking just how inefficient this technology has become.
When I began apartment hunting in October of last year (2017), it was my second time attempting to find a new home in the GTA. I knew that based on my first attempt, there were many places to look for an apartment but not many that would secure a place to rent. I, along with many of my peers, have tried using websites such as Viewit, Kijiji, and Rentseeker, yet the downside of these options is the fact that you are competing with everyone else who types “apartment rental Toronto” into Google. While these methods are convenient and offer you quick means of communication with prospective landlords, the chances of them getting back to you within 24 hours is slim. Most of the apartments that are trendier or budget-friendly have either been taken off the market already or are so popular that the landlord is bombarded with responses to their ad.
The most common pattern I found about on-line apartment ads was
1. They are rarely updated based on availability.
Landlords run the same ads whether they have inventory or not. This frustrates the hell out of apartment hunters.
2. The likelihood of getting a response from the advertiser is extremely low.
Instead of removing out-of-date ads, staff simply don’t respond to inquiries. Or maybe in a very tight rental market, they only respond to the first 25 or so calls. Hard to know but why spend the money advertising if your staff are not prepared to deal with customers?
So how did I ultimately end up finding a decent apartment? I finally turned to condo rentals and what I found most effective in my search was using a real estate agent, who could connect me directly to landlords and provide in-person tours rather than the virtual ones offered by most websites. These virtual websites typically do not depict the full tenant experience (such as messy amenity rooms, lingering odours of a certain hemp plant in hallways, aging elevators and other slightly unwanted details). I worked with an agent who was not only helpful with getting me in touch with landlords, but was able to accommodate my schedule and ensure that all necessary forms were sent my way. It made the entire process a breeze with regards to documentation, and the agent did not hesitate to answer any questions I had about legalities or other concerns. As much as new-age technology can aid you with finding a rental within the city, trusting the people who know the exact steps to putting you into an apartment is the wisest choice.
In conclusion, there are going to be people who would rather do the search on their own than use an agent. The tools which are offered to prospective tenants looking for a new rental unit are abundant, and are incredibly convenient to use. However, if you wish to receive responses within a decent time period, or even get multiple tours of these units (since you’re as picky about living spaces as I am), a real estate agent is a valuable resource for the sake of your future home and your sanity.
