How to Avoid Rental Scams on Craigslist, Trulia, Zillow, etc.

One of the great things about the internet and Real Estate is we can advertise our listings to just about anyone in the world. It is fantastic for our sellers because it gives them the maximum exposure they deserve, but it also leaves the door open for rental scams...

 Here's how to avoid these scams:

1. If a deal looks too good to be true it probably is. If a property is being rented for 1/2 price, be suspicious, very suspicious. Another red flag is if utilities like Cable, Power and Water are included. 

2. Never send a deposit or funds of any type until you see the inside of the unit. Scammers may have photos, but will almost never have keys or direct access to the property.

3. Do NOT wire money! Especially not out of State or out of Country.

4. Cross check the property address against other websites (including my website - www.SearchWilmingtonHomesForSale.com - as we have all the active listings in the MLS on our site). If you find the property is listed for Sale on another site, call the listing broker and find out if it is also for rent.

5. Our MLS and most others watermark the photos. Ours are watermarked in the bottom right hand corner. This is a good indicator that the photo was taken off a Realtor's site somewhere. 6. Cross check the owner's name against public records. If the person you are speaking with claims to be the owner, but their name is different from the public records, then a serious red flag should go up! Your best bet is to always to go through a licensed and reputable Real Estate Broker!