Looking for a place to rent can be difficult, especially when you have limited time or a tight budget. In many places, opportunities come and go quickly. So you’ll want to take advantage of ways to streamline the process. But do so wisely — some ways of finding housing are more expensive than others:

• Ask around: Ask family, friends, and coworkers if they know of something opening up. Finding a place through an acquaintance might help you avoid heavy fees.
  
• Classifieds: Classifieds and rental listings websites can be convenient ways to see and read about properties. But keep in mind that these listings are available to a large number of people, so properties are often gone before you have a chance to see them.
  
• Brokers: Brokers can provide great access to properties, and are often helpful if you’re not familiar with an area. But remember that they are salespeople and earn a fee if you rent through them. You don’t want to be pressured into something you can’t afford.
  
• Listings services: A listings service will provide you with a series of ongoing reports that list properties being rented without brokers. But there’s a charge, which could be as much as a few hundred dollars. And, like classifieds, these lists are probably used by several thousand people.

A listing divided You can avoid extra fees by checking out the right listings. Click here to learn more!