Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Nitty-Gritty of Direct-to-Owner Rentals
Minimum stays:
Two to four nights is standard.
Getting a deal:
Worthwhile discounts (of 15% to 20%, usually) kick in
if you volunteer to stay for at least a week, so use that as a bargaining
chip.
Finding the right place:
Most apartments are identified by the name
of the neighborhood they're located in, so as you start your search, have
a good map of the city handy. It's also smart to have a map of the city bus
routes so that you'll know how easy your transportation connections will
be; you can print one at www.sfmta.com.
Hidden fees:
Keep a close eye on fees and security-deposit require-
ments; they change for every property and booking site.
Red flags:
Walk away if an owner asks you to wire him the full amount
before you get the key. This is an unsafe way to transfer money and gives
you no way to get your money back should something go wrong. Instead,
you should pay by credit card or PayPal. Also, if you're booking on a site
such as craigslist, which doesn't police its advertisers, be wary of a renter
who's unwilling to show you pictures of the property.
The “Renting Your Own Apartment” section in this chapter lists the
best websites for San Francisco apartment rentals.
Remember:
Listings are
ever-changing, and because these databases don't come out and inspect
apartments themselves (members pay a fee to be listed), quality and
selection changes by the day.
of photos. I've seen some excellent options here, including a one-bedroom flat in
a Haight-Ashbury Victorian complete with computer, Internet access, washer and
dryer, and a fireplace, for $135 a night or $900 a week. Again that's not drop-dead
cheap, but if you can snag it for a week, you'll find it's a heck of a lot cheaper than
pouring your money into a small hotel room. VRBO also represents the odd bed-
and-breakfast, which are mixed in with the apartment options.
CRAIGSLIST
Craigslist
(http://sfbay.craigslist.org)
is probably the dominant website in town
for casually finding an apartment for rent. This service functions pretty much like
a newspaper's classifieds section, except it's free for landlords to place an ad. As I
said above, the free setup also means that there's no one following up to check on
the quality of what's being advertised, and photos are not included, so it's up to
the you to do your own checking, get pictures, and hash out details with the other
party. You may be renting a place that's usually occupied by owners who are going
on vacation and want to make a little cash in their absence. You may also be rent-
ing one that's totally empty and just has a few sticks of furniture—there are as
many potential arrangements as there are apartments in the city. So make sure you
know, to the letter, what you're getting into, unless you want Judge Judy involved
