Houses for rent in Ashburn, VA

Overview

There are a number of different ways to go about securing rentals, one of which is looking into rentals by owner. If this is your first search for a rental apartment, you should be aware that it may not be easy to find just the right apartment. There are ways to make it easier, but keep in mind that there are a lot of factors that go into this endeavor. You need to find the right location, the right size, and you need it to be at a rental price you can afford. You've also got to visit the apartments to make sure that you're getting what is advertised. With everything involved in a rental, you want to give yourself as many options as possible, and that will include looking into rentals by owner. With rentals by owner options, you also may have the advantage of having better communication with your landlord, who may have more control over the property and repairs than a landlord who is employed by a management company.

What Are Rentals By Owner?

Rentals by owner are just what the name implies. Just as some homes may be listed as "for sale by owner," you may find listings of apartments that are "for rent by owner." Essentially, what this means is that you are renting directly from the owner of the building or apartment itself. You are not going through any middlemen, meaning no one is brokering the rental. You aren't renting from an agent who has compiled a list of rental properties from various locations, and you aren't renting from a rental company. You are renting and signing a lease directly with the owner of the domicile where you will be living. While this may seem a little unusual in this day and age, there are actually some advantages to this arrangement for both the owner and the potential renter. As you are looking for a rental opportunity, it can be a good idea for you to understand what these advantages are.

Why Do Owners Rent Directly?

The main reason that owners opt to rent directly is to save money. Listing a rental property with an agent requires fees and time, and many owners would prefer to cut all of that out. Years ago, such a decision would have been much more complicated. However, today, thanks to the Internet, it is significantly easier. Now, owners can list their properties themselves on an apartment finder website for one very low fee. Because the Internet provides global access to millions of motivated potential renters, this can be a very effective way to do business. In addition, some owners may be looking to rent a vacation property for just a few months at a time, and they don't want to have to go through a broker whenever it comes time to secure that renter. While all this is great for the owner, it can be very good for you as the renter as well. Often the savings that the owner enjoys by renting directly can be passed down to you too.

Why Should You Look for Rentals By Owner?

One thing that is important to realize is that there is no notable difference in quality between a rental you find through a rentals by owner arrangement and a rental you find through a broker. It's not as if certain types of apartments can only be offered by the owner directly and others can be rented through a broker. The only real difference is in how the deal is made. If you don't use a broker, you shouldn't expect to pay any fees either. Furthermore, since you are dealing directly with the owner, he may be inclined to make a better deal on the rent. Finally, it never hurts to have a relationship with the owner of the property you are renting, be it a residential living arrangement or a vacation apartment. Direct relationships are often the best for all parties that are involved.

What Kind of Rentals By Owner Are Available?

Virtually any kind of rental that you might be interested in is available as a rental by owner. Rentals by owner arrangements are most commonly found with vacation rentals, but they can also be found with residential properties. Rentals by owner are available for townhomes, condos, and traditional apartments. You can get a rental by owner for a studio, one bedroom, two bedroom, or three bedroom apartment, or an even larger apartment. If you're looking for a rental of any kind, and you think a rental by owner arrangement may be to your benefit, don't be afraid to go out there and look for one.

More on Finding an Apartment Rental

Whatever type of rental you are looking for, there are multiple ways to approach the situation. One avenue you should definitely consider is searching online, using an apartment finder website like Rent.com. These websites are extremely easy to use. All you have to do is go to the site, input the city where you are looking to rent, put in your price range and the size of the apartment you're looking for, provide your email address and click "submit." Almost instantly, you'll be presented with a range of options that fit the parameters you have indicated. You'll get a description of the various rental possibilities and can expect pictures of the property as well so you know what to expect. What's nice about this is you can get a good idea of what is available in your price range, and when meeting with an owner or landlord, you'll be in a good position to discuss rental price as you will have a good idea of where the market is for the particular type of rental you are searching for. Once you've come up with a few candidate apartments you'll have to visit them personally, of course, but you'll have saved so much time by narrowing your search possibilities online that this probably won't seem more like fun than work.

Final Word on Looking for Apartments

As noted previously, the experience of renting a new apartment can be a stressful one. Whether it's taking advantage of online rental searching and considering options like rentals by owner, the more flexible you are in your rental search, the better your chance will be of finding the perfect rental easily and with a minimum of effort. Then you can get on with what is almost certainly your real goal, which is moving into a great new place and starting a new life in a fresh location.