Most people use a Realtor when they plan to buy or sell a home but it's not so common for people looking for a rental property to do so. Some people just don't know that a Realtor can work with renters and some have found that it's difficult to find a Realtor who is willing to do so.
The Charlotte Multiple Listing Service includes many rental properties. As of today there are nearly 1200 rental properties listed. Of course there are many other sources for rental listings and many rental owners will rely on other methods - the sign in the front yard, the Craigslist ad. etc. etc.. In my experience, however, most of the larger, reputable agents are listing their rental properties on the MLS - making it a one stop shop for renters.
The main reason that some Agents don't work with Renters is because the commission they receive on a successful transaction is small compared to that which they earn with a sale. Agents are wary about taking clients to see 5 - 10 rental properties and being paid little more than enough to cover their costs. Some agents will ask for a fee from Renters - maybe $200 - up front to protect them against this and many renters find this to be a good investment.
There are significant benefits to Renters in using their own agent when looking for a place to rent. Many of these are the same as the benefits of using a Realtor when buying. It's always great to have someone on your side in a major transaction - and most leases in Charlotte are for at least 12 months. The other main reason is pure convenience. If you have to contact 5 different agents to make appointments to view 5 different properties it's much more complicated than having 1 agent show you all 5. This may take 1/2 a day - but you will also have the value of one expert's objective opinion about the properties you have seen.
If you would like more information about using a Realtor to find a rental property - just drop me an email. I'd be happy to advise you.
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