Tag: Rental services
Rules for renters in dealings with Chicago rental services
Chicago renters often find dealing with rental services an experience that's frustrating at best and an expensive, life-disrupting nightmare at wo [...]
Stop using Craigslist to shop for rentals, says real estate veteran
Dennis Dooley is a seasoned veteran of the real estate industry, having served in management positions at both a local and national level.
He's [...]
Online availability check of Streeterville 2-bedrooms
Several weeks ago we upgraded YoChicago's at-a-glance list and map of downtown apartments by adding direct links to online availability checks for [...]
Always ask to see a rental agent’s licenses
Many of Chicago's rental services employ unlicensed staff in flagrant violation of the law, fully aware of the fact that they're committing a crim [...]
A visit to Exchange Apartment Finders
Yesterday morning I visited 1531 N Ashland Ave, the address listed on its website for Exchange Apartment Finders (EAF). My goal was to interview t [...]
Is it finally handcuffs time for Exchange Apartment Finders?
As far back as November 2000 Exchange Apartment Finders was fined for practicing real estate without a license and ordered to obtain one. We've found [...]
YoChicago launches YoRents, online speed-dating for renters and landlords
Looking for an apartment in Chicago? Have you ever placed an apartment-wanted ad on Craigslist and wondered whether any landlords would see it? Di [...]
A Cobbler Square loft story – facts, lies and stale information
Over the weekend I noticed rental services advertising 2-bedroom, 2-bath lofts at Cobbler Square on Craigslist at prices ranging from $2,550 to $2,610 [...]
YoChicago’s at-a-glance apartment lists just got better
Are you looking for an apartment in the Loop, West Loop or South Loop? Do you have a deep craving for painful, time-wasting, risk-fraught experien [...]
Real and Craigslist fictional rents at The Streeter
The Streeter, a 48-story, 481-unit apartment tower at 345 E Ohio St in Streeterville, was still in lease-up mode and at 56% occupancy when Yo visi [...]
Tales from an apartment hunt – unreliable prices, disreputable brokers
One of my correspondents, a veteran renter, has been sending me periodic updates on his experiences in searching for his next apartment. Here's hi [...]
Tales from an apartment hunt – brokers vs rental services
One of my correspondents, a veteran renter, has been sending me periodic updates on his experiences in searching for his next apartment. Here's th [...]
Chicago’s best apartment website gets better
Several months ago we opined that Apartments.com, a national site owned by a group of major newspapers, was the stand-out choice for renters searc [...]
Are you the reason your rent is too damn high?
Jimmy McMillan, the 2010 gubernatorial candidate of New York's Rent Is Too Damn High Party, achieved some notoriety thanks to the many YouTube rem [...]
Chicago rental services closing offices, rebranding, testing new business models
As Chicago's rental market strengthens and vacancies decrease, a number of landlords have been cutting back on their use of apartment rental servi [...]
Tracking MLS-listed north lakefront rentals
Last week we quietly began keeping track of the available inventory of homes and condos listed for rent in six north lakefront ZIP Codes in the lo [...]
Thirty or more bedbugs wanted
Help wanted ads for the apartment rental industry – the folks we refer to as bedbugs and place on a do-not-call list – routinely tout high-paying [...]
Chicago’s best apartment rental website
There's no single website that's best for Chicago apartment searches of all types.
There is, however, one that stands out if you're limiting y [...]
Yelp reviews that reek – My Town Realty Group edition
You're all probably highly aware of this phenomenon by now, but a reminder never hurts.
When you're looking at reviews of apartment rental services [...]
Trader Bill’s experience renting with David Nadler
I've frequently cautioned renters about the pitfalls of working with the rental services that I call bedbugs based on their toxic behavior toward [...]