Ginny Davis, a property manager-associate for Magnum York Property Management Ltd. in Olds, has some advice for prospective home renters who want to avoid being scammed when looking for a place to live.
"What I want people to understand is that they need to do their due diligence," she said during an interview with the Albertan.
One piece of advice is to make sure the company you're dealing with is legitimate — and that it actually is who it says it is on a website or other advertising medium.
"Then if it says my name, call. Look up our head office, look up the phone number and call there and ask for me. See if I actually legitimately work there, " she said. "Make sure I am who I say I am. Find me somewhere else. Look me up somewhere else, perhaps Facebook."
She stressed that she's not saying private owners can't rent their property if they wish.
"But deal with professionals and know who you're dealing with," Davis said.
"If you're an owner who says you have a rental, they (prospective renters) should be able to meet with you, touch the property, walk through the property, see the property," she added.
Davis said prospective tenants should also be careful about the form their payment takes.
"Legitimate companies don't take e-transfers. And we don't take cash — it's too hard to follow back on, too hard to trace," she said.
"So as a tenant coming into this, follow their money. Make sure their money has a trail, whether it be a money order or a cheque, make sure everything's in writing, make sure there's a trail, make sure who they're dealing with is somebody legit."
"If somebody's offering a brand new property for $1,200, shiny new, double car garage, heated, all utilities included, there's something not right there," Davis said.
"They should know the market, they should know the rents for the area. Before you go out to rent, know what's out there. Look around, see what's out there, see what the rents are. And if it's too good to be true, it likely is."
