Tips for apartment hunting in Los Angeles? (timing,red flags, fees, negotiation)

Housing & Rent
1

Do you have any insider tips for a first-time mover? Where and how do you find your apartments in Los Angeles?

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2

I know Craigslist can be kinda shady sometimes, but I found a lot of rooms there. Especially good if you consider roommates. Most of them won’t ask for your credit score. Facebook Marketplace, Facebook groups, or local pages like this one are also an option.

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3

I would walk around and look for signs that say “for rent”. Apartments that are posted online have more competition.

Craigslist, as mentioned above, is good if you want to live with roommates. You just have to watch out for who is posting the ads. Some people seem to look for more than roommates.

4

Yes, definitely something to watch out for.

I prefer pages like https://www.spareroom.com/.

5

My friend told me once to rent a nice car and make sure the landlord sees it. I did that when I got my first place. Not sure it was because of the car, but it certainly didn’t lower my chances back then. :rofl:

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Hahaha. Might be worth the extra money.

Fake it until you make it. :nerd_face:

8

There’s definitely some truth to “fake it until you make it” in Los Angeles, especially when apartment hunting. Confidence, presentation, and being prepared can make a surprisingly big difference when you’re competing with multiple applicants. You obviously shouldn’t lie about your income or provide false documents, but showing up organized, professional, and like you have your life together can absolutely work in your favor.

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