Rental FAQ: Tenant questions

About Member Services

• Can I have my login information reset if I lose or forget it?
• Can I have you send me an eMail if an apartment is found that meets my needs?
• Is it a good idea to get renters insurance?
• How long have you been in the apartment-hunting business?
• What kind of features can I specify when I search for an apartment?
• How long will a listing be valid for before it is rented? Do you check the availability of your listings?
• Do landlords look more or less favorably on students?
• What if I'm new to the area and don't have a phone?
• What kind of fees are associated with the application process?
• I found some ideal apartments through the search engine, but I just tried to find them again and they have been removed. Why is this?
• How does the searching process work? Do I have to call your office and speak with someone to search?
• How can I get a copy of my credit report for the application process?
• Does my account become active immediately after I sign up?
• What are good references to put on a rental application?
• How much time should I set aside for moving into an apartment if I live outside of the San Francisco area?
• What will make my application the most appealing to a landlord?
• What is the best time to get a hold of landlords?
• What contact information do you list for the landlords?
• Does my membership grant me assistance from someone in your company?
• Do you have listings for sublet properties?
• Can I use your services just by accessing the website? Can I contact you if I need help?
• Do your listings include properties that are under rent-control?
• Under what circumstances can I claim my moving costs as business expenses on my tax return?
• How can I maximize my chances of getting accepted by a landlord if I have a pet / pets?
• Do you list properties that have handicapped-friendly facilities?
• Do you have listings for 'ready-to-occupy' apartments, or apartments that already have furniture?
• What kinds of additional fees will I see when I get ready to move into an apartment?
• I've done several searches, but I'm not getting many results. What am I doing wrong?
• I spoke with a property manager and they claim that they do not advertise with your service.
• Can I narrow down my searches if I'm looking for an apartment with specific features?
• What services does a membership provide?
• How should I prepare for meeting with a landlord?
• Can I see a demo of your services before I sign up?
• What are the details of a membership?
• Why don't you have more listings with pictures?
• How much of San Francisco do you list for?
• Who handles matters where a person is prevented from being accepted for a lease because of race, gender, faith, etc.?
• What is a lease and what does signing it entail?
• Can I have one of your agents or an assistant / friend of mine meet with the landlord to finalize the rental application and lease-signing?
• What information will I need to fill out a rental application? Why do landlords require them?
• What is the first step in finding an apartment?
• How can your services give me an advantage over the other rental and apartment listings?
• What documents will a landlord need from me for the interview process?
• What is a rental deposit, and how much do they amount to typically?
• What is a credit report?
• How does my credit rating affect the way that landlords will see me as a potential tenant?
• How often are new listings added to your site?
• How often are your listings updated?
• How does cosigning affect my chances of being accepted for an apartment?
• If I need to find an apartment that will permit pets, can I specify that requirement when I search?
• If I have never lived in San Francisco before, can you offer assistance and advice to help me in my search?
• What is Section 8, and can I search for properties that accept it using your service?
• What is the benefit of using a listing like yours? Can't I get the same results by looking in the newspaper?
• What is a good timeframe to start the search before I begin moving? How can I be sure that I can find an apartment in time?