Skepticism as Consumer Protection

If you’ve been on an apartment hunt in New York City in the last 5 to 8-ish or so years, you’ve probably been on Craigslist. Before that we all used the Village Voice classifieds or just whined to our friends until they let us crash on their couch ‘for a month’. If you had disposable income (or no choice) you walked into a brokers office with a list of stuff you want in an apartment and they find one for you.
K. and I recently landed a new apartment in one of our favorite neighborhoods, one where we have lived before and are very happy to move back to. Anyway, as is our wont, we used Craigslist (and a broker, minus the disposable income) and found a great new place. But before we found the new place, I responded to a few other ads, one of which seemed just a tad fishy. Now I’ve rented more than a few apartments in this city in the last 10 years and ‘too good to be true’ doesn’t even begin to describe what’s happening here.



See how the ad says that the place is $750 a month and it’s clearly a luxury rental? So I’m fairly certain that I didn’t hop in a time machine and go back to 1995 to find the first Craigslist ad for a Brooklyn apartment, so immediately my Skepti-senses were tingling. It wasn’t a share either, no mention of another roommate who would be splitting the total rent. Hmmm… I used my superior Google-fu skills and found this:



Notice how the wording in the box on the right-hand side is exactly the same as the first ad. Also notice that the apartments in this ad are FOR SALE. Not for rent. For sale.
In the first advertisement there is a Gmail address. Usually people don’t release their actual email addresses, but use the Craigslist reply address, which masks your actual address. Not this guy.

Ladies and Gents, meet Scott Loechner.

Here now is the fun email exchange I decided to have with Scott. Please note I am placing a big fat [sic] on this whole exchange. You'll see:


Me:

Dear Scott,

I am replying to the craigslist ad regarding the apartment for rent at
121 Kingsland Avenue.
The description provided in the ad sounds like a true luxury rental,
not to be missed. However, the price of $750 sounds a little too
good to be true.
Could you please clarify? Is this a typo?

Kind regards,

Brian George

Him:

Hi,
I am very happy to inform you that the apartment is still very much
available for rent, my intentions and plans is to give out the
apartment to a Reliable and Responsible person that would be able to
take proper care of the lovely home. It’s indeed a lovely and
comfortable home and available to move in as soon as possible May the
Peace of the Good Lord be with you for considering my home.

Fees:
Per Month: $750 (Including Utilities)
Security / Deposit: $150 (Refundable)

APARTMENT FEATURES:
- Separate, spacious bedroom
- High ceilings
- Hardwood flooring throughout
- Large living room
-walk in closet
-tons of sunlight
-quite building

 I would like you to know that i am giving this home out for rent
because i just relocated to West  Africa for a research program
and it will last for 5 years before rounding up the
program. So my family and i have decided that we would be moving to
our other home when we get back. i would like you to fill the below
details:
==========================================================================
RENT APPLICATION FORM
FIRST NAME:_________
MIDDLE NAME: _________________
LAST NAME: __________________
AGE: _____
PROFESSION: ________________
MARITAL STATUS____________
TIME ON YOUR JOB:______
PHONE NUMBERS
(CELL)PHONE _____
(WORK)PHONE ____
(HOME)PHONE _____
KIDS ___ (YES/NO), HOW MANY _____
PRESENT ADDRESS: ____
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING?
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? _______
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ________
IF YOU HAVE A PET?_____-
DO YOU SMOKE? ______________
DO YOU DRINK? _________
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ____
========================================================================
I would like you to know that you are free to contact me at any time.
After I receive these details, I would get back to you soonest and
then let you know my terms.

PLEASE NOTE YOUR QUESTIONS BELOW.?

I hope to hear from you soonest.
God Bless

Scott Loechner
(Phone number deleted, because I'm not fully evil)

   
Me:

Dear Scott,

Thank you so much for your reply.
I am interested in renting your home.
How soon can I come and see the space for
myself?
I would be happy to fill out your application after
seeing the space.

All my best,

Brian George

   
Him:

Hello ,thanks alot for your quick response, i am also very happy that
you could get back to me as soon as possible, cause i am wishing to
give my lovely home as soon as possible, i would be willing to
conclude this in the next couple of days, so if you would be moving
in, then that would be as soon as possible, either tomorrow or the day
after it. all paperwork's are ready and keys.. my wife sent her
greetings to you. we would keep you in prayers. May he continue to
extend his infinite mercies towards our families.

Please, i would be giving the home to you, but please do give me an
assurance that you would taking good care of the apartment and pay the
monthly rents at the proper time.

To move in, only the security deposit of $150 would be needed, this
would also facilitate the payment of the keys and lease contract
agreement to your address, please do send me the complete address, if
its not complete, cause that's where i would be making the delivery of
the package to as soon as the Security deposit is made. And also it is
100% refundable if you wont be interested in what you see. but i can
guarantee you that you would surely love it. I wont be moving back
into the apartment so you can stay for as long as you wish to. its has
an elevator, the apartment is located at  121 Kingsland Avenue,
Brooklyn, NY 11222.

Do get back to me soonest, so that i can call you, since i cant see
you, so please do take care of the apartment as your property. the
monthly rent would be paid at every end of the month which also
includes utilities and bills. Once you have be able to get the keys
and lease contract along with full details and description of the
apartment,do move in when ever you wish to, see you new home and then
sign paperworks. the property has 2 parking space for you and laundry
available within.

Once you have the keys and lease, go down to the apartment building ,
i would be attaching a letter of authorization, so that the super
could help you move in. After which i would connect you to my
apartment realtor, so you could be paying the monthly rents to them
time to time.

i would be waiting to hear from you soonest, so i can send you the
payment information, so you can make the payment as soon as possible
and then i would send you the UPS tracking so you can know what time
you would be getting the package, cause its going to be a UPS next day
delivery.

Hope to hear from you soonest and God bless.

Scott Loechner

Me:

Dear Scott,

So I cannot see the apartment until I have paid you?
This is highly unorthodox.
Under normal circumstances, I should be able to see the apartment
first, to see if it fits my needs and only then, would a deposit be asked of
me, after-which a credit check should be performed by the appropriate
party to make sure I can pay the rent.
Can you please confirm this?

Best,
Brian

Him:

Yes, but note that  have no one to show you the place and note also
that super won't show you the place, unless you have the keys and
authorization letter from me, the landlord.

Editors note: At this point I noticed on the actual realty company website that they were holding an open house for the building that weekend. Forthwith:
 

Me:

Scott,

You own the apartment but are also the landlord?
Does this mean you own the entire building?
I was under the impression that the building was managed by
Modern Condo Inc. Can you please clarify?
I see on the website that the building is having an open house
this Sunday. So I will just go over on Sunday and see the apartment
and speak with the super.

How long have you lived in this apartment?

Best,

Brian

He never replied after that last one.

So what does it take to hone your skeptical apartment hunting skills? Well, it’s really all in the research. Know the neighborhood that you’re moving into. How much does a typical one bedroom go for? Is it new construction, renovated, or ‘freshly painted’ and how much do those go for respectively? Does it seem too good to be true? Do they want money up front, before you even get to see the space? These are all things that one needs to keep in mind when looking for a place to live, especially when using the Internets as a primary resource. It can be well worth it, especially for the wonderful amount for 'For Rent By Owner' listings (read: no fees), but we need to turn our baloney detectors on high alert when doing so. 

In the end, K. and I found a great place and we can't wait to move back to one of our favorite Brooklyn neighborhoods. We miss our bodega guys and we know they'll be happy to have us back in the 'hood again.