3 Reasons to Research the Owner of a Property

An adorable house down the street could hide devious secrets. The address and facade could be used by scammers to appeal to renters, the owners could have a dark history, or the home could have a weak foundation that makes it difficult to sell. You never know about the home’s history until you dig below the surface and learn about it.

Fortunately, this is easier than ever with the internet. In just a few clicks, you can learn all about the owner of a property and the property itself. Here are three reasons why you should always research who owns a home when you want to learn more about it.

Make Sure a Rental Ad Is Honest

One of the most common rental scams involve people listing homes that don’t belong to them on sites like Craigslist. The scammers will share photos of the outside of a home (stealing interior photos from a different listing) and advertise the home as available for rent. When interested parties reach out to see if the home is open, the scammers ask for $100 (or a similar amount) for a background check. Some scammers might even approve the rental and ask for the first and last month’s rent before moving in. The victim only realizes it’s a scam when the scammer disappears with their money.

If you’re considering renting a home, check to make sure the person you’re talking to actually owns the property or works with the property management company to rent it. This can ensure you’re actually renting a viable home approved by the owner, not just writing checks to scam artists.

Learn What Other Properties They Own

If you’re having problems with your landlords, you can find out more about them and learn about the other properties they own. For example, if they refuse to fix various problems or they significantly increase your rent, they might be doing that to other tenants in the area. You can work with them to build a case against their contract because they’re not helping you. With just a few clicks, you can make a legal case for a better living environment.

Get to Know Your New Neighbors

If you have ever had an uneasy feeling when you met someone, then your intuition might be warning you to look out for them. This is particularly true if you have new neighbors who just moved in. While not everyone in your area has to be neighborly, suspicious activity could make you want to check on the people who just moved in next door or down the street.

It’s better to know about issues with your neighbors up front instead of learning about them months or years down the road. Researching the owner of the property can help you keep your kids, friends, and family safe.

It’s entirely possible that the cute house you see on a rental ad or a new family down the street is perfectly safe, but are you willing to take that risk? With just a few clicks, you can make sure you’re making a safe decision for your family and save yourself a lot of money, time, and stress.
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