The Whens & Hows of Home Rental from Out of State? (Portland: apartments, rentals)

[Sondeera]

We're moving to Portland August 1st and I was hoping to get a little help from you kind and knowledgeable folks regarding the nuts and bolts of renting a home from out of state.

My husband is transferring his job, and they are paying for our move and if needed a month or two of temporary housing (although we really don't want to use that if we can avoid it - it's just a safety net we are grateful is in place).

They're also flying us up once or twice to scout the area and become familiar with the employees and their families (it's a small, tight-knit office).

I've been scouting rentals in our favorite neighborhoods for months now (what a panic before I came to the common-sense conclusion that rentals are even more scarce during the holidays, ha ha).

However, I'm a bit in the dark of how to actually go about renting a home in another state before we are actually residents there. The company will fly one or both of us up closer to move time to run through homes over several days, put in applications, etc.

Is there anything special I should include with our applications? A way to sweeten the deal (we were thinking of offering three months' rent in advance). Are people going to turn us away just because we are from out of state? Is it possible to rent a place without actually being there? I'm a little nervous.

My cousin is a PDX realtor and did offer to help us, which I imagine would make us look a lot more legitimate. Have any of you tried this?

[christiner81]

we had a similar relocation package. we flew up and drove around neighborhoods on our first visit. Then my husband stayed in the temporary corporate housing while i stayed behind to sell our house. while he was in temporary housing he found our rental. if they are offering the temporary housing, take them up on it so you can have time to find something you like. since they are furnished it's not like you have to move twice, and it's nice to have a ready to go place while you're waiting for the moving van to show up.

for us, the salary & employer info was all they needed. we did not have to put up cash in advance, i'd think that would only be an issue for very poor credit or no job lined up. DH put in his application for the rental the day he saw it. Be prepared to decide quickly on a house if you find one that you like.

[travelin'bones]

Whatever you do, don't rent site unseen. Take the temporary housing if you don't seal the deal on a house hunting trip.

[Nell Plotts]

I agree.

[kyled]

Originally Posted by travelin'bones

Whatever you do, don't rent site unseen. Take the temporary housing if you don't seal the deal on a house hunting trip.

I might be wary even if you visit the apartments. I don't know if this is the case everywhere but I've read a lot of reviews made by people who were shown an apartment that was renovated and beautiful, told that their apartment would be the same, only to move in to an apartment that hasn't been updated since the 80's. I don't live in Portland yet and don't know when I will move but when I do I'll certainly try my best to actually see the apartment I am moving into and not just a showroom apartment.

[Sondeera]

Thank you for the advice. We won't rent anything sight unseen and we've unfortunately experienced apartment bait and switch before, so we are wary of that as well, when we first moved to Orange County from L.A.

I appreciate the help!