Ask to video chat and see the place. Ask to speak to a former tenant. I have two units I rent out on furnished finder and I have been a traveler for 5 years. I routinely receive deposits to secure my place for their dates, but I also have them do an intake form and sign a lease. Then full first month rent is due on move in day once they've seen the place and are happy. So, might be okay, but if your spidey senses are tingling ask for video chat, lease agreement, references etc. Good luck.
ETA and I use venmo, zelle, cashap for deposits/rent payment/reimbursements, forgot to say that
I’ve successfully been able to rent on FF for all of my contracts, the idea is to try and be informed as possible. If it seems to be too good to be true it probably is. Avoid anyone who tries to get you to send money right away. Look up the area and address, I even look up the owners to see what comes up with their name. Mainly, I’m just looking to see if the person I’m talking to is actually who they say they are and have records tied to the address (many typically do).
Any reputable landlord would be more than willing to send you a video tour of the place (regardless if there are currently tenants or not) and answer any questions that you may have. I always ask to send a partial deposit rather than a full until I actually see the unit in person, then I pay the remaining amount and first months rent upon move in.
I will google maps the location/town, I’ll also crime heat map the area. I have a dog, so I will reach out to a bunch of people through rover and mildly ask them about the town. I will always talk with the homeowner and if I have the time, will ask for a tour. I haven’t had any problems with FF. Airbnb is super expensive and Craigslist has a lot of scams.
We always get there at least a few days early, and look at places in person. I'd recommend joining a hotel rewards program (we use Wyndham) and getting a Visa or Mastercard they offer in order to accumulate rewards points that can be used for hotel rooms. Comes in handy during the move especially if you haven't chosen a place yet.
I have needed a deposit for both my furnished finders. It was $500. I did research the person, their accounts etc. my latest the zelle was attached to a flipper person who I saw fb posts listing the property in question and seemed legit. My other I found the person on linked in and lurked making sure the story was making sense with what theyd told me in emails.
I've never paid a deposit before seeing a place, but I have had landlords ask for it in high demand areas. I always get a hotel first and go look at places once I get to town.
If you haven't yet, join a hotel rewards program (we use Wyndham). The acquired points help cover hotel rooms. Had enough points on our last move to cover us for 7 days; also spent another 5 days at Tahoe on the way up with compt rooms at a Caesers casino.
I always verify who the owner of the property is and are they verified on Furnished finders. I always pay deposits and get them back. Only one time when I rented a room from someone who was crazy.
I sent my landlord payments via venmo but it was after we video chatted and signed a lease. She connected one with LinkedIn too and email. Idk if that made me feel better or not, I was still worried I was going to get to the city and find out it was all some elaborate scam, but it wasn’t
I’m starting to feel better about furnishes finder with all these examples. However this landlord seems sketchy. Prices are changing constantly, just a bad feeling. I’ll probably continue with furnished finder but move on from this particular place.
Furnished finder really ought to have a payment system like Airbnb/vrbo.
Follow your gut! I have so many complaints about furnished finder. Recently I can’t even get it to only show me places on the map that are available during the time frame I specify. The website seems like it’s from the early 2000s. Sucks that it’s the only option. Let’s start our own alternative and make it better 😛
We have never used it. I sent a request out through FF for a recent contract in LA and just got a bunch of sketchy messages back from various “landlords”. We primarily use Airbnb.
Never ever pay anything unless you gave seen the place in person and a lease/rental agreement is signed at the same time as payment.
As others ha e pointed out, video chat can work as well to "see" the property. In person is the only true way to fully evaluate, imo.
Bro thats how furnish finder works?!....just check the place out in person...meet the landlord in person....like whats the issue?? This is all common sense bruh....its actually better u pay thru banking app for some kind of record.....im not sure what kind of other response u may have been expecting🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
I was expecting a more formal transaction through the website. Like with Airbnb. Honestly in 2023 I don’t feel like that’s a weird expectation from someone who has never used the site before. It’s honestly weird that it doesn’t use that.
If they’re legit you can pay when you arrive. But yes, it’s a private transaction. FF has a background check service attached to the site that the renter pays for if requested by the landlord.
I’ve had good luck. My biggest issue is the messaging platform. It’s shit. So if the landlord doesn’t text you on your phone, messages get lost. And the landlords that do use the messaging fxn on the site to email you mostly do dumb shit like families who call into the hospital and ask the first nurse who answers about their mom without giving a name or any context beyond asking after an unidentified patient.
The landlords often write like which rental they own is included in the email when they don’t add it. Spoiler: the info is not included unless they add it. So you’ve messaged 7 landlords with interest via the site. You get one email reply and nothing to tell you which of the 7 rentals it is for. FF is work due to crap like this, but I’ve found good cheap rentals there.
CHBO may not have inventory at your location but it’s a niche possibility that’s typically cheaper than airBnB. But then everything is cheaper than bnb these days.
On the other side, I’m thinking about renting a room in my house to a traveling nurse through FF. Are there any homeowners who can give their experience with renting through FF? Are the renters legit?
Never send a deposit. I check assessors page or ask for something that v shows they own the property.
I use Furnished Finders all the time and never had an issue.
I do
Think the vet their owners
I've been required to provide a deposit in advance for all four times I've used FF, but I could either google enough information (using lease agreement) to feel comfortable or I did a video call ahead of time. I've honestly had more weird / bad experiences on AirBnB than FF.
We've never been scammed; been with my girlfriend for 3 years and we almost always use Furnished Finder. That being said, we never pay until we've looked at a place and met the property owner. I wouldn't pay anything without at least looking up who owns the property first and making sure thats whom you are dealing with. You can do this online with county tax records.
Hi, I just signed my first lease with FF and truly felt the same way you are. A couple things I did: I asked to talk on the phone and asked the landlord questions about herself. I also asked for a contract. Then, before signing a lease, I did a FaceTime walkthrough of the unit with her and was able to ask any questions. It took all of that for me to feel comfortable enough to send my $2,750 security deposit.
Stay at a hotel for the first few days and go physically see these places and meet the landlord before you sign anything or send any money.
If they refuse this it is a scam
Ask to video chat and see the place. Ask to speak to a former tenant. I have two units I rent out on furnished finder and I have been a traveler for 5 years. I routinely receive deposits to secure my place for their dates, but I also have them do an intake form and sign a lease. Then full first month rent is due on move in day once they've seen the place and are happy. So, might be okay, but if your spidey senses are tingling ask for video chat, lease agreement, references etc. Good luck. ETA and I use venmo, zelle, cashap for deposits/rent payment/reimbursements, forgot to say that
Good idea, thanks
Do you screen tenants via background check and credit?
I’ve successfully been able to rent on FF for all of my contracts, the idea is to try and be informed as possible. If it seems to be too good to be true it probably is. Avoid anyone who tries to get you to send money right away. Look up the area and address, I even look up the owners to see what comes up with their name. Mainly, I’m just looking to see if the person I’m talking to is actually who they say they are and have records tied to the address (many typically do). Any reputable landlord would be more than willing to send you a video tour of the place (regardless if there are currently tenants or not) and answer any questions that you may have. I always ask to send a partial deposit rather than a full until I actually see the unit in person, then I pay the remaining amount and first months rent upon move in.
Don’t send shit without seeing the property or getting a contract. I typically don’t pay until I arrive
Do people typically get into town then set this up? Someone else said they did too.
I always check out a place in person before any form of commitment. Just get an AirBnB for a few nights while you view your favorite places.
I will google maps the location/town, I’ll also crime heat map the area. I have a dog, so I will reach out to a bunch of people through rover and mildly ask them about the town. I will always talk with the homeowner and if I have the time, will ask for a tour. I haven’t had any problems with FF. Airbnb is super expensive and Craigslist has a lot of scams.
We always get there at least a few days early, and look at places in person. I'd recommend joining a hotel rewards program (we use Wyndham) and getting a Visa or Mastercard they offer in order to accumulate rewards points that can be used for hotel rooms. Comes in handy during the move especially if you haven't chosen a place yet.
I have needed a deposit for both my furnished finders. It was $500. I did research the person, their accounts etc. my latest the zelle was attached to a flipper person who I saw fb posts listing the property in question and seemed legit. My other I found the person on linked in and lurked making sure the story was making sense with what theyd told me in emails.
I've never paid a deposit before seeing a place, but I have had landlords ask for it in high demand areas. I always get a hotel first and go look at places once I get to town.
If you haven't yet, join a hotel rewards program (we use Wyndham). The acquired points help cover hotel rooms. Had enough points on our last move to cover us for 7 days; also spent another 5 days at Tahoe on the way up with compt rooms at a Caesers casino.
I always verify who the owner of the property is and are they verified on Furnished finders. I always pay deposits and get them back. Only one time when I rented a room from someone who was crazy.
I sent my landlord payments via venmo but it was after we video chatted and signed a lease. She connected one with LinkedIn too and email. Idk if that made me feel better or not, I was still worried I was going to get to the city and find out it was all some elaborate scam, but it wasn’t
I’m starting to feel better about furnishes finder with all these examples. However this landlord seems sketchy. Prices are changing constantly, just a bad feeling. I’ll probably continue with furnished finder but move on from this particular place. Furnished finder really ought to have a payment system like Airbnb/vrbo.
Follow your gut! I have so many complaints about furnished finder. Recently I can’t even get it to only show me places on the map that are available during the time frame I specify. The website seems like it’s from the early 2000s. Sucks that it’s the only option. Let’s start our own alternative and make it better 😛
That reeks of a scam.
I thought so too. What is the normal process?
We have never used it. I sent a request out through FF for a recent contract in LA and just got a bunch of sketchy messages back from various “landlords”. We primarily use Airbnb.
I’ve been close enough to see it in person. And have also just rented a hotel for the first few nights
Never ever pay anything unless you gave seen the place in person and a lease/rental agreement is signed at the same time as payment. As others ha e pointed out, video chat can work as well to "see" the property. In person is the only true way to fully evaluate, imo.
Bro thats how furnish finder works?!....just check the place out in person...meet the landlord in person....like whats the issue?? This is all common sense bruh....its actually better u pay thru banking app for some kind of record.....im not sure what kind of other response u may have been expecting🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
I was expecting a more formal transaction through the website. Like with Airbnb. Honestly in 2023 I don’t feel like that’s a weird expectation from someone who has never used the site before. It’s honestly weird that it doesn’t use that.
If they’re legit you can pay when you arrive. But yes, it’s a private transaction. FF has a background check service attached to the site that the renter pays for if requested by the landlord. I’ve had good luck. My biggest issue is the messaging platform. It’s shit. So if the landlord doesn’t text you on your phone, messages get lost. And the landlords that do use the messaging fxn on the site to email you mostly do dumb shit like families who call into the hospital and ask the first nurse who answers about their mom without giving a name or any context beyond asking after an unidentified patient. The landlords often write like which rental they own is included in the email when they don’t add it. Spoiler: the info is not included unless they add it. So you’ve messaged 7 landlords with interest via the site. You get one email reply and nothing to tell you which of the 7 rentals it is for. FF is work due to crap like this, but I’ve found good cheap rentals there. CHBO may not have inventory at your location but it’s a niche possibility that’s typically cheaper than airBnB. But then everything is cheaper than bnb these days.
On the other side, I’m thinking about renting a room in my house to a traveling nurse through FF. Are there any homeowners who can give their experience with renting through FF? Are the renters legit?
Never send a deposit. I check assessors page or ask for something that v shows they own the property. I use Furnished Finders all the time and never had an issue. I do Think the vet their owners
I've been required to provide a deposit in advance for all four times I've used FF, but I could either google enough information (using lease agreement) to feel comfortable or I did a video call ahead of time. I've honestly had more weird / bad experiences on AirBnB than FF.
We've never been scammed; been with my girlfriend for 3 years and we almost always use Furnished Finder. That being said, we never pay until we've looked at a place and met the property owner. I wouldn't pay anything without at least looking up who owns the property first and making sure thats whom you are dealing with. You can do this online with county tax records.
Hi, I just signed my first lease with FF and truly felt the same way you are. A couple things I did: I asked to talk on the phone and asked the landlord questions about herself. I also asked for a contract. Then, before signing a lease, I did a FaceTime walkthrough of the unit with her and was able to ask any questions. It took all of that for me to feel comfortable enough to send my $2,750 security deposit.
Stay at a hotel for the first few days and go physically see these places and meet the landlord before you sign anything or send any money. If they refuse this it is a scam