The Rental Girl Blog
Post by Lindsey
Post by Ellie
Post by Ellie
Post by Ellie
Post by The Rental Girl
Post by Lindsey
Post by EllieHow To Make Your Application Stand Out
Los Angeles can be a tough city to find a good rental. And often when you do find that perfect rental, there are a ton of other applicants who want it just as bad. That is why it is so important to really impress the landlord upfront by submitting a complete application. You need to stand out of the crowd and make sure you get that perfect rental.
How exactly do you do this?
Keep reading for tips on how to increase your chances in getting your dream place:
Post by EllieWhat to expect when applying for a rental
The number one question I get from applicants is:
“How long does it take before I know if I got accepted?”
The answer to this question highly depends on you, your application and the property.
It could take a couple of days. But, if there are multiple applications it may take a bit longer. More often than not, the delay is actually due to “incomplete applications”.
Our application requirements are detailed on our site. Even with all the requirements outlined in detail, applicants still submit incomplete applications: missing IDs, proper proof of income and basic info requested on the application itself. I know we are all in a hurry, but if you skip lines, submit incomplete information to hurry things up, it actually ends up hurting your chances. Read the rest of this entry »
Post by EllieNegotiating 101
Many people contact me to ask: 
“Is the rent negotiable?”
This is a great question, and one you should definitely be asking. You want to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your future rental. Only you know what your budget is. You might find the most perfect rental out there but it’s just a tad bit over your budget. So you ask: “Will the landlord come down on the rent?” The answer can either be YES or NO. And when negotiating rent, there are two ways to go about it: the RIGHT way and the WRONG way. Follow our tips on how to correctly negotiate and make sure you get the rent reduction you want:
Post by The Rental GirlRents Got You Down?
Everyone is trying to find that perfect rental. You know, that cute secluded bungalow with a yard and parking and laundry and loads of charm. You search and search for it but all that comes up are these boring white boxes with no character and no outdoor space. You think you have a good price range, but yet you can’t find a decent rental! We hear this from renters all the time. Every renter wants a charming apartment with a yard, a parking space and a garbage disposal at an affordable rate. But these perfect rentals are hard to come by.
When this perfect home and rent cannot be found, depression sinks in and the renter starts feeling hopeless . . . and angry. All this sadness and anger have me wondering: why isn’t anyone helping these people? That is when I decided to write this post. Let me explain it to you all.
“There is more to life than where you live.” -The Rental Girl
When you have searched for weeks, toured hundreds of homes, viewed thousand of online ads, and are still homeless – don’t panic. It is not the end of the world. You do not have a home, but you still have a life. And you sure as heck have a cell phone. So call a friend. Take a bike ride down the Los Angeles River. Head up Vermont Avenue and hike for a couple hours up to Dante’s Peak in Griffith Park. Grab a blanket and have lunch up in Elysian Park. Read a book at the Japanese Gardens behind the Grace E. Simons Lodge. Watch the sun setting over Hollywood at the Barnsdall Art Park. Sit at a cafe on Sunset and people watch. Pick up some beer and burgers and BBQ at your friends house. Catch a movie at the Vista. Spend the day at the beach. Go whale watching in San Pedro. Take the Metro to Olvera Street. When I started this paragraph you thought I was joking. But I am serious! Get out and enjoy Los Angeles. Period.
Now that you are under control, let’s get back to business. Here are the most important things you need to look for when choosing your future affordable home: Read the rest of this entry »