Should I Use A Realtor to Find a Rental Home? (Raleigh: real estate, rentals)

[planningmove]

Hi all - I'll be moving to Raleigh in June from out of state. I am looking to rent a home in Cary. I've heard that realtors have access to a MLS for all homes listed for rent, which sounds useful. However, does anybody know what kind of commission the realtors would charge for helping me find a home? I know that home owners who are trying to find tenants usually pay a commission to property management services or realtors. Is there typically a "finder's fee" charged to the tenant too?

Since I'm not from the area, I would also appreciate it if anybody has any specific realtor recommendations. Thanks for the advice.

[Grawburg]

Go to nchomerentals.com and see a list of homes for rent.

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by planningmove

Hi all - I'll be moving to Raleigh in June from out of state. I am looking to rent a home in Cary. I've heard that realtors have access to a MLS for all homes listed for rent, which sounds useful. However, does anybody know what kind of commission the realtors would charge for helping me find a home? I know that home owners who are trying to find tenants usually pay a commission to property management services or realtors. Is there typically a "finder's fee" charged to the tenant too?

Since I'm not from the area, I would also appreciate it if anybody has any specific realtor recommendations. Thanks for the advice.

A Realtor can offer the convenience of helping you to view multiple homes listed on the MLS by multiple property managers.
Typically the owner or property manager pays the Realtor a "showing fee," which may be from $50 to $500, depending on the owner or property manager.

The tenant does not typically pay the showing Realtor. We also don't "represent" the tenant in negotiations, or filling out leases. The property manager or owner will have a lease. North Carolina just doesn't offer tenant representation agency status as an agent's role.

Since the pay can be minimal, some Realtors don't handle rentals, but if you find one that does, it is a fairly painless way to judge how Realtors deport themselves, and if that is a person you would consider working with if you decide to buy in the future.

[planningmove]

Thanks - it sounds like I'd have nothing to lose by working with a realtor as a tenant.

What are the major real estate agencies in the area?

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by planningmove

Thanks - it sounds like I'd have nothing to lose by working with a realtor as a tenant.

What are the major real estate agencies in the area?

What can I say?

Keller Williams has a few fair-sized offices...

Coldwell Banker, Howard Perry and Walston
Coldwell Banker, Advantage
Fonville Morisey
Prudential
YSU, Young Simpson Underwood
Allen Tate
Remax

Some property managers:
Block and Associates
Rhyne Rental
Franchelle Stevens
Bev Roberts Rentals
Rhyne Rentals
The Preiss Company
Wilson Property Management
Cameron Property Management
Vince Thai

And there are a lot of individual agents who put their own and friends' properties onto the MLS.
So, you can see that working with one agent may conveniently get you access to homes listed by a lot of people.