Cleveland Real Estate News

Scams exist whenever money is involved so it’s no surprise that homes listed for rent make scammers salivate.  An experience I had this week alerted me that a reminder about such things might be in order.

I had a home listed for sale for lease purchase, and then as of last week, for rent.  I scheduled an open house, knowing how many people are looking for single family homes, had three people vying to rent.  So by Monday, I removed my Craigslist rental listing for the house.

That doesn’t mean the house is not still advertised on Craigslist for rent, however! Some out of the Country entrepreneur made up a Yahoo! email with my name in it, said I was the owner of the house, advertised it for $100 less a month.  I don’t know how many people contacted this person, but one gal knows the house, knows my client, and alerted me by phone and email.  I flagged the ad on Craigslist, notified my Company’s legal department, emailed the ad to spam@uce.gov (great resource for you, an FTC email if you discover something like this).  But even though one ad was taken out, another appeared.  I haven’t checked today, and this story isn’t really the main point.

What if you answered an ad, someone said, as this person did, I live out of the Country, but send me a completed application (with all your particulars on it of course) and if you and I come to terms, I’ll tell you how to send the security deposit and then you can move in! 

In some cities, this is big business.  I was told by an agent in another State that the police have found an organization with someone ‘on the ground’ in one big city, so that real people actually meet you at the house, you give them money, maybe even move in!  Except…they don’t own the house!

My suggestion to you, if you are looking to rent something besides an apartment building, is to check out the owner of the house on the County Auditor’s website.  Sometimes owners have surrogates (management companies) doing the renting and collecting of rent.  No worries, it’s all legit, but check them out too.  You can always ask to see paperwork authorizing them to rent the property.

Don’t send any money out of state!  In the most recent ad I mention above, the person’s English is a tad out of sorts.  Look for any red flags.  Best to be able to meet the owner in person or at least through a legitimate third party.  Just a little leg work (we call it due diligence) can save you from parting with money that seems to disappear into thin air!

And you thought it might be dull being in real estate

3C