Housing rental scams confusing amid ‘desperate unprecedented times

Rental scams in Vancouver and across Canada have been on the rise for years, but COVID-19’s slow-down of in-person property viewings and interactions with landlords may make it even harder for people to figure out what’s legitimate online.

A recent article published by Vancouver is Awesome narrates an incident where the scammer even met the Burnaby residents in person pretending to be the landlord of the unit advertised on craigslist and then later fleeing away with their money.

Don’t Wait for Keys to be Couriered:

No company/landlord will send you keys to the property without meeting with you or having you see the home. If someone offers to send you keys in exchange for money, it’s probably a scam. We have heard plenty of horror stories about people who sign a lease and send a security deposit, but they are still waiting for keys to the property.

These craigslist rental scams are no new stories, so the renter must be alert and aware. Here are some tips to be armed with the correct information, so renters can be sure that they’re protecting themselves and their wallets by looking out for red flags.

If you are dealing with a property management company in BC while searching for a new place.

Here are some tips:

• Do extensive research via google and social media platforms
• Do a license check through the real estate board of the British Columbia(REBC)
• Do not send any money before signing an agreement

If you are dealing directly with the landlord

Here are some of his tips:

• Ask references from the landlord
• Ask for proof of ownership, such as land titles or a city property tax assessment, or ID.
• Avoid any money transfers and cash payments that are not traceable and do not pay upfront.

With all of the stresses searching for a new home and moving to bring, the fear of falling victim to a scam is extra worry renters don’t need.

The best way to protect yourself from rental scams is by renting through a reputable property management company like First Stay Realty Inc. With many property owners and tenants’ services, our team of experts works diligently to protect owners’ investments and provide tenants with a smooth, worry-free rental experience.

For more furnished/unfurnished rental properties in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, visit https://firststaybc.com/.

Best Packing and Moving Tips: How to Make Relocating Less Stressful?

 

We often need to shift places because of professional or personal reasons. Moving places can be stressful and packing and moving everything safely is no doubt the most hectic part of the entire process. Here are some of the moving and packing tips and tricks that will make your relocation easier. Hiring relocation services in Vancouver British Columbia will make things a lot easier after following all these tricks and tips.

So, if you are planning for relocating and are desperately in need of packers and movers to help you with the moving process comfortably, hire the best ones who can offer you a safe and convenient movement of all your belongings.

While the professionals know the best way to do their job, there are some packing and moving tricks and tips that can be followed to make the entire journey hassle-free and easier. These will help you easily transfer your belongings without having to worry about damages. Read on to know more.

• Start as early as possible

Start packing early. In this way, your everyday task will be simplified. For instance, starting from the rooms that you rarely use, move towards the area in the order of increasing movement. Avoid chaos, and spread your work according to the number of days.

• Pack smartly

When you shift from here to there, packing the right belongings is the most essential thing. The simple ways to pack while moving is considering the things such as the items packed by you, how efficiently the items are placed in the boxes, how many categories you have divided your packages into, and how well they are placed in the vehicle, all of them play an essential role.

Smart packing starts by creating an inventory or a checklist of everything that needs to be packed and checking all the items that are packed already while moving house. Don’t throw the inventory away because you might need it while unpacking the luggage.

• Mark every bag that will be packed

After finishing with the packing work, let’s move ahead. Ensure to mark the boxes as “linens”, “fragile”, “accessories”, separating liquids and electronics from each other, so that nothing gets damaged. In this way, you’ll not only sort everything while unpacking things but this will also save your time and do something more important.

• Do not use duct tape, instead of a packing tape

Duct tapes are the ones on which a person shouldn’t rely. It doesn’t work the best while holding heavy materials tightly. So, it is recommended to use the packing tape, as it stays for a longer time and is reliable as well.

• Use anti-static packing bubbles

Keep the electronics away from the things which can lead to electricity. Since anti-static bubbles are safe with electricity products and don’t produce them, they are perfect to keep electrical belongings. These can easily be bought from a store near you.

• Security and safety

While packing and moving, the major concern should be safety and security. An expert hack tells you that while packing everything, make sure to take extra care of fragile stuff. Also, make sure to go through all the items if they are packed in the right manner and are stored well.

A safe packing can only be ensured with leasing services in Vancouver. They will not only help in packing and moving your valuables but will also help to unpack every box at the relocated destination. Get all the benefits at affordable prices. Go ahead and make your relocation process easier with the help of experts.