Looking For A Rental?

Looking for a rental in Key West? For now, there is NO comprehensive multiple listing service for rental property. Until there is, you'll have to ferret out the deal for you. Here are tips from the Property Manager's seat:

- Looking months in advance can be an exercise in frustration. Most of the time, we don't know a tenant is leaving until 60 days before they do. Most of our tenants renew (our tenants are happy)! If looking months in advance, you MIGHT hit on a property where everyone knows the tenant will be leaving, but this is not usually the case. Just be prepared and don't get discouraged.

- Check the Key West Citizen (the daily newspaper) everyday. You never know when a new listing will show up. Online, go to www.keysnews.com, classifieds.

- Ride through neighborhoods and look for rental signs in windows or on fences. Many local owners don't advertise their rental properties, they just put out a sign.

- Call property managers/real estate companies to see what we have available or coming up. GET OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE IT.

- Then email us every few days, see what's new. You never know when one of us will get a new listing. We want to know of good persistent tenants, but if you call all the time, you will make you and me crazy. Email is good!!!

- Be prepared to move quickly on a place. Rentals go fast.

- Don't rent sight unseen. VERY bad idea.

- We don't rent to tenants we have not laid eyes on. EVER. You need to see the place you'll be living, and we need to eyeball YOU. So if you are out of town, don't call me unless you are going to be here to see the place and let me see you.

- Please don't leave your number and expect us to call you back unless you have EXTRAORDINARY references/resume - the rental market moves too fast for that to be feasible. If you are going to expect us to call you, stop by the office and fill out an application, shake the rental agent's hand and impress the hell out of us. We'll remember you.

Any questions, please call or email anytime. Good luck in your search!