Can you haggle the price of rent before you lease with large apartment complexes?

Question

I'm looking to rent my first apartment in the fall and was wondering whether or not I can knock a little bit off the price of rent before I lease with them, or whether advertised prices are usually set in stone. Thanks a bunch.

Answer 1

You're going to need to do your homework, if you're going to have a chance at knocking some $$ off your monthly rent. But here are a few things you can do...

First, check the apartment complexes in your area. Many offer move-in or other specials, especially when vacancy rates are high, especially if you're living in a college town or somewhere that there's seasonal turnover.

Second, you'll want to check with other apartment complexes to see what their going rate is for whatever type of apartment it is you're looking for. Get prices in writing, if at all possible.

Lastly, when you go in to look at an apartment, remember that the rental agent (who quite frequently is the apartment manager as well) is going to be evaluated on the number of "sales" he or she makes. That's going to be a bit of an incentive to provide some negotiating room.

If you do the first two steps and keep the third in mind, it's possible to get some $$ knocked off, quite frequently. When you start discussing the price of rent, have your other rates handy and point out any rates that are less than what you're being offered. Several rental agents in my area are notorious for matching (or beating slightly) competing rates - so long as the apartments are pretty similar in layout (# of bedrooms, sqare footage, etc.). It's also possible to get a reduction if you're willing to pay up-front for the full contract, half of it, or even in quarterly installments.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You can't usually haggle with them, they're pretty much set in stone... At least the ones I know. But, places like rent.com give you some $ (I think it's a hundred bucks) for finding a place thru them. If you rent an apartment in a private home (like a two-family house kinda thing) you can usually haggle and barter.

Answer 3

You have nothing to lose by trying. Offer a lease on the spot and see if they will work with you. They may or may not be authorized to do so.

Large complexes usually have leasing agents and they get bonuses by lease signings. If you are there at the right time you just might get a rent concession or they might offer you a move-in special.

Answer 4

No, you can't haggle with a large complex. Unless there is something seriously wrong, and they can't find any tenants, in which case, you don't want to live there anyway.

You can haggle with a landlord with only one or two units though. Get some written, verifiable references saying what a great tenant you are and how lucky the landlord would be to have you, and they may cut you a deal.

Answer 5

With the larger complexes it's usually a take it or leave it deal. Especially if you're in an area where rental accomodation is tight. Some smaller owners may be willing to negotiate but it's unlikely.

Answer 6

Try to find out what their vacancy rate is. If they have a high vacancy rate, your chances are better to negotiate a lower rent. After all, some income is better than no income. You won't get a large discount, but you might be able to get a little off.

Answer 7

they might improve hire yet they cant assemble the recent hire until the previous hire is up and the recent hire is written. you should take a verify out your hire just to be sure youre solid and prepare a replica of it to the valuables supervisor. you have rights as a tennent and the regulation is on your section on condition that your hire is as you describe. solid success!