Hi Streeteasy, I know that the rental market has become tough again but I wanted to know whether you had any suggestions for negotiating a lower rent on an apartment we are applying for. The place is unfortunately handled through a broker even though the place is in a small building owned by one guy. The rent is already $300 more than we've budgeted for and now there's the broker's 15% . Ouchie!... [more]
Hi Streeteasy,
I know that the rental market has become tough again but I wanted to know whether you had any suggestions for negotiating a lower rent on an apartment we are applying for.
The place is unfortunately handled through a broker even though the place is in a small building owned by one guy.
The rent is already $300 more than we've budgeted for and now there's the broker's 15% . Ouchie!
Do you suppose there are any ways we might get the rent down?
Offering extra months up front? Rent in cash?
What if we do the cleanup, painting and whatever else needs doing since the outgoing tenant has been there 10 years?
The broker isn't even preventing us from talking to the LL directly; he lives in our present neighborhood, hangs out at a place we go.
It'd be easy to talk to over at the bar since he goies "almost every night".
Broker even emailed me today saying the owner "really likes us" and wants us to get the place over the person next in line.
Anyway, if you have any thought I would really really be grateful.
-eekahil
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