The Pros and Cons of Apartment Hunting with StreetEasy, Zillow, Craigslist, Facebook, and RLS IDX
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Apartment hunting in a big city like NYC can be a daunting task, but fortunately, there are many different websites and platforms available to help you find your dream apartment. In this article, we'll take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using StreetEasy, Zillow, Craigslist, Facebook, and the RLS IDX on a website when searching for an apartment.
StreetEasy and Zillow are both popular third-party websites that are parts of networks which charge fees to be listed on. One of the main advantages of using these websites is that they have a large selection of listings available, making it easy to find a wide variety of options. On the other hand, the big complaint is that their systems are often slow to update in a market where apartments can be listed and gone in hours. (Some listings can take days to appear on the system.) On top of that, agents frequently complain that data can be so inaccurate, they can't really use them from professional purposes, for example, in order to perform market analysis to make sure the client is getting the absolute best deal. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, on the other hand, are more decentralized platforms, where anyone can post a listing. One of the main advantages of using these platforms is that they can be a great way to find unique or off-market apartments that aren't listed on other websites. However, a disadvantage of using Craigslist and Facebook is that anyone can post a listing, so the user has to filter through a lot of irrelevant listings, some which include scams and illegal listings. The RLS IDX on a website, on the other hand, offers a more accurate and up-to-date listings as the rental listings are directly provided by real estate professionals who are required to follow a specific brokerage agreement which basically gives them 24 hours to list, and requires expired listings to be taken down immediately. Additionally, RLS IDX based websites take your preferences and search history into account to provide you with personalized recommendations, making your search more efficient and tailored to your needs. RLS IDX also provides you with push of a button access to a licensed real estate agent which in the process provides you with exclusive access to some properties that are not listed on public websites. All in all, it is pretty much like staring into the computer screen of a professional agent. In conclusion, all of these websites and platforms offer their own unique benefits when searching for an apartment in NYC. StreetEasy and Zillow have a wide selection of listings available, while Craigslist and Facebook can be a great way to find unique or off-market apartments. However, when it comes to accurate up to date listings, RLS IDX on a website puts the tools of a pro in the hands of consumers while at the same time making it easy to get professional assistance offering the best of both worlds: computer assisted and agent assisted home searching. |
