Rental FAQ: questions

About Member Services

• Can I search for rent-control or Section 8 rentals?
• If I have bad credit what can I do to improve my chances of finding a good apartment?
• How frequently do you post new vacancies?
• What is the advantage of using your service over the other listings that are available?
• Does your company provide me with anything that I couldnt do by myself?
• How long have you worked in this field?
• Can any of the costs that I incur while moving be written off as tax deductions?
• What is the Guarantee on the membership?
• I want my money Back. What should I Do ?
• Where do I start the apartment hunt?
• Why are my searches not returning any listings?
• What is a rental application, and what information do they ask for?
• Do the apartments that you rent have furnishings?
• What is renters insurance and where can I go to get it?
• Will a co-signature help my chances of being accepted if my credit is not very well established?
• What do I need to know about signing a lease?
• What will make a landlord look upon my application more favorably?
• How should I choose the references that I list on my applications?
• If a landlord needs to pull my credit report what will they need from me?
• Do landlords charge a fee for rental applications?
• What will I get when I sign up?
• I just joined and wish to cancel the service,how do I Do that?
• Will you make contact with me as soon as I sign up?
• I«ve called a few listings, but they have all been rented already. Isn»t this covered under your guarantee?
• Is there someone that can assist me if I need help during the search process? What can they do to help?
• How much of the Southern California region do you list for?
• What Forms of payment do you accept?
• What should I expect to spend to move into a new apartment?
• How soon before I move should I start looking?
• Is there a preview search so that I can Try before I Buy?
• What kinds of criteria can I specify in my search? Can I search for furnished apartments, or ones that take pets?
• How accurate and current are your listings?
• Can I obtain a credit report through you?
• Do you have a section for «Pet-OK» apartments? How does having a pet affect my options?
• I have forgotten my username / password. Can I have it reset?
• Why did the apartments that I put in the Favorites section disappear?
• I found a Place on my own. How Do I process a refund.?
• I have already issued a trouble ticket. How long before I hear from you?
• Do you have a phone that I can use if I am new to the area and dont have one?
• How should I approach the apartment hunt if I live outside of the area?
• What service do you offer?
• I Have just joined. How long before I hear from you?
• Can I get help with the search from one of your rental agents?
• Why arent there enough pictures of the properties that are available?
• What information might a landlord ask for from me during the application process?
• Who should I contact if I think that my race / gender / faith is preventing me from being accepted for an apartment?
• Is there anything that I should bring along with me when I am interviewed by the landlord, or when viewing the property?
• I am a student. How will this affect my chances of finding an apartment?
• How long does my account take to activate once I sign up?
• Do I have to actually be present at the apartment to complete the rental process?
• Do you have specific listings for handicapped-accessible rentals?
• How Do I process a refund ?
• My dog is rather large, and most landlords that say that they will consider pets balk when I tell them what kind of dog I have. Am I out of luck?
• What is a standard deposit for entering into a new apartment?
• Will you send me an eMail if an apartment is posted that meets my criteria?
• Some of the landlords that I have called from your listings claim that they only list with a different advertising company exclusively. What does this mean?
• How can I get a hold of the landlord once I find a suitable apartment?
• What is the typical timeframe for finding an apartment? How can I be certain that I will find an apartment in time to move?
• I am new to the area; can you help get me started in my search?
• I forgot my username and password what should I do?
• I cant seem to reach any landlords at their office.
• How precise can I make my searches?
• What is subletting? Are there any rentals in your listings that I can sublet?
• What do I need in order to use your services?
• What Is Your Gurantee?
• How much is your service
• Are all these listings I see as guest really vacant?

The Search Process

• How do I search for section 8 properties?
• Can I search by zip code?
• Why is there not enough pictures?
• Whay should I do if I have a problem?

Landlord Services

• Is there a cost to post an ad with you?
• Can landlords or tenant-members obtain credit-checks through you?
• What are the features and benefits of a landlord account?
• Do you have pricing guides available for apartments in my area?
• What is the benefit of upgrading the visibility of my account?
• What contact information will be available to members when they see my ad?
• What additional tools do you offer for property managers?
• What is the best way to make sure that the largest number of people see my listings?
• How do I sign up, and what do I need for the signup process?
• How long does it take for my listings to show up after I post them?
• What is the benefit of using a rental website like yours?
• How do I post a listing?
• Should I delete my listing after the apartment has been rented?
• Where do you advertise your properties and services?
• How Many pictures can I post?
• How does your service help me, as a landlord?
• What does it mean when a listing is «Deactivated»?
• Can I post pictures of my property?
• How do I change information about my ads, or update my profile?
• Can I get assistance in posting and modifying my listings?
• Do you post listings from managed communities or other agencies?
• How can I recover my login information if Ive lost it?

Rental Term Definitions

• What is a «unlawful discrimination»?
• What is «an eviction notice»?
• What is a «Motion to Quash Service of Summons»?
• What is a «legal service»?
• What are «credit references»?
• What is a «Claim of Right to Possession Form»?
• What is a «landlord»?
• What is a «rental application form»?
• What is an «unlawful detainer lawsuit»?
• What is «abandon/abandonment»?
• What is a «federal stay»?
• What is a «periodic rental agreement»?
• What is a «sublease»?
• What is the definition of «to waive»?
• What is a «default judgment»?
• What are «legal aid organizations»?
• What is a «rental unit»?
• What is «an appeal»?
• What defines if a unit is «habitable»?
• What are «prepaid rental listing services»?
• What is «tenancy»?
• What is Subletting? Should I Consider Subletting ?
• How is «discrimination» defined when dealing with rentals?
• What is a «lodger»?
• What is a «repair and deduct remedy»?
• What is «an arbitrator»?
• What is «implied warranty of habitability»?
• What are «rent control ordinances»?
• What is a «tenant screening service»?
• What is an «credit report»?
• What is «an eviction»?
• What is a «Memorandum to Set Case for Trial»?
• What is a «security deposit»?
• What is Section 8? Do you list properties that accept Section 8?
• What is «The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing»?
• What is an «item of information»?
• What is a «rental agreement»?
• What is the definition of «uninhabitable»?
• Rental Agreements and Leases
• What are «fair housing organizations»?
• What is «novation»?
• What is a «sixty-day notice»?
• What is a «holding deposit»?
• What is «The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development»?
• What is a «credit reporting agency»?
• What is a «lease»?
• What is a «rental period»?
• What is «advance notice»?
• What is the legal definistion of a «guest»?
• What is a «Prejudgment Claim of Right to Possession»?
• What is a «subpoena»?
• What is a «writ of possession»?
• What is «a Demurrer»?
• What is a «lock out»?
• What is «renter»s insurance?
• What is «an Application for Waiver of Court Fees and Costs»?
• What is a «holding deposit»?
• What is «relief from forfeiture»?
• What is a «tenant»?
• What is «the landlords duty to repair unit»?
• What is «an escrow account»?
• What is «mediation»?
• What is «retaliatory eviction or action»?
• What is rent control? Do you list apartments in areas that are rent-controlled?
• What is «an assignment»?
• What is an «initial inspection»?
• What is «rent withholding»?
• What is a «thirty-day-notice»?

About Our Services

• What are the long-term benefits of your service?
• How often do I check for updates?
• What types of properties do you offer?
• Can I see what properties you have before I sign up?
• How does this process really differ from what I could do on my own?
• What if I have physical disabilities? Do you list properties that cater to these needs?
• Can you screen for pets? Is there a separate listing for rentals that allow pets?
• Can I give you more specifics regarding what Im looking for (for example, if I want a place that has a garden, includes parking, or whatever)?
• What other services do you provide?
• What other services do you provide?
• What is your service?
• Can you guarantee that your rentals are not listed anywhere else?
• Why do all of your listings have an icon to schedule a showing?
• How can you educate me about the various communities I might live in?
• Why do you charge for your service?
• Why should I subscribe to your service?
• What types of people use your service?
• How long will it take for me to find an apartment?
• How can you educate me about the various communities I might live in?
• What do I leave with if I come in to see you?
• How long will my membership last?
• Can I see what properties you have before I sign up?
• How Secure is my personal information?
• What if I need more help?
• Do you handle option-to-buy rentals?
• How often do you get new listings?
• Will my information be secure and confidential ?
• What will an agent do for me if Im new to the area?
• What types of people use your service?
• What is the difference between your service and other services?
• How long have you been in business?
• Which areas do your listings cover?
• Do you cover special rental units like section 8 or rent controlled rentals?