looking for a new place (San Francisco: apartment, rental market, house)

[migol84]

Hey, just was wondering if there's another way to go house hunting besides craigslist. I swear the only responses I've had were scams and its really really really annoying me. I'm gonna look into the classifieds later today when I go out, but I was wondering if you guys knew of a website where there were apartment ads or something where people were just looking for a cool, open-minded, laid back, and decent roommate. I've used that line so many times.... ugh, I hate house hunting.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by migol84

Hey, just was wondering if there's another way to go house hunting besides craigslist. I swear the only responses I've had were scams and its really really really annoying me. I'm gonna look into the classifieds later today when I go out, but I was wondering if you guys knew of a website where there were apartment ads or something where people were just looking for a cool, open-minded, laid back, and decent roommate. I've used that line so many times.... ugh, I hate house hunting.

You can use an agent.

[migol84]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

You can use an agent.

boo! It costs more, doesn't it?

[mayorhaggar]

Craigslist is it. I've never had problems except for the fact that when the rental market is tight anyone posting a "roommate wanted" ad gets so deluged with responses that most of the time they never email you back with a meeting/viewing appointment. In 2007 I needed a new place to live and the rental/roommate market was crazy, I responded to like 100 "roommate wanted" ads and only got 2 replies and neither led to anything. As an experiment I finally made my own bogus CL listing advertising a room for rent for $700 near Dolores Park, just to see how many responses ads were getting. Within about 5 hours I had 500 replies!!!

If you see stuff that is like $300 for a room for rent and shows pictures of some giant mansion while claiming it's in the Outer Sunset, you know it's a scam. Otherwise just reply to "roommate wanted" ads on CL and if they set an appointment go and meet them. Anyone asking for money before meeting you or saying something about meeting you away from the apartment to give you a key in exchange for money is probably scamming you.

[clongirl]

I suppose you could try to go the "old fashioned" route and check out the bulletin boards at colleges and cafes/supermarkets (if they even still have them anymore) if you think you need more options in addition to craigslist. Word of mouth also helps if you have friends/relatives living in the City.

[legal_eagle]

Look on the Multiple Listing Service, San Francisco Multiple Listing Service.

[mayorhaggar]

Originally Posted by legal_eagle

Look on the Multiple Listing Service, San Francisco Multiple Listing Service.

How is that going to help someone looking for roommates?

[migol84]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

Craigslist is it. I've never had problems except for the fact that when the rental market is tight anyone posting a "roommate wanted" ad gets so deluged with responses that most of the time they never email you back with a meeting/viewing appointment. In 2007 I needed a new place to live and the rental/roommate market was crazy, I responded to like 100 "roommate wanted" ads and only got 2 replies and neither led to anything. As an experiment I finally made my own bogus CL listing advertising a room for rent for $700 near Dolores Park, just to see how many responses ads were getting. Within about 5 hours I had 500 replies!!!

If you see stuff that is like $300 for a room for rent and shows pictures of some giant mansion while claiming it's in the Outer Sunset, you know it's a scam. Otherwise just reply to "roommate wanted" ads on CL and if they set an appointment go and meet them. Anyone asking for money before meeting you or saying something about meeting you away from the apartment to give you a key in exchange for money is probably scamming you.

What's it like living in Rockridge? I've been there quite a few times and it looks pretty peaceful. I wouldn't mind living there being that the BART is right there and it reminds me a little bit of Austin only more laid back.

I dunno, I guess I'll keep trying craigslist. The majority of responses I've gotten have been scams and I never reply to them since they are pretty darn easy to point them out.

[Ceece]

Craigslist can be competitive! My daughter found her last place on Craigslist but her new roommate got over 60 responses the first day the ad ran. You really need to sell yourself when you respond.

[migol84]

Originally Posted by Ceece

Craigslist can be competitive! My daughter found her last place on Craigslist but her new roommate got over 60 responses the first day the ad ran. You really need to sell yourself when you respond.

I think the whole craigslist, competitive, and selling yourself thingy is all stupid. I don't know why looking for a place of all things has to be this competitive. I don't like "selling" myself, as I find myself not having to. I am in every essence, a very cool person. All it is is for someone to list the number and let me meet them. They will know at first handshake that I would be a great tenant. I have that personality... but I don't like boasting about myself, even though that's kinda what I'm doing. But I hate cliche lines someone has to use in order to "sell yourself". But despite the fact that I do a pretty good job of "selling" myself... it's still irrelevant because of all the responses they get, they're probably only going to answer to a few of them and most likely not even read my email. This whole process is stooooooooooooooooooopid.