Rental research strategies
It is no secret that Auckland has a competitive rental market. For those on the hunt for their ideal rental property, having a strategy in place is a great starting point and as we know a good strategy is based on great research. The obvious place to start your research is online. At Barfoot & Thompson (barfoot.co.nz), we receive tens of thousands of searches of our rental properties on our website each month. We had a look at some of our website insights which could help you tick some of the boxes on your wishlist when searching for a rental.
Areas most searched
Of our ten most popular area searches, four are related to entire regions with no other filters. This implies that people are casting a ‘wide net’ in their initial search and not looking too specifically into one region. The following are the most popular regions of Auckland:
1. Auckland
2. Manukau City
3. North Shore
4. Waitakere
What does this mean? Perhaps, people realise that in a heated rental market such as Auckland, you can’t be too picky at the outset when searching for available rentals and you’re best to focus on the main area of Auckland you would like to live in.
Drilling down to a more detailed search
As part of your plan to find a rental, property searching in areas that are under the radar can mean less competition and fewer people applying. It is a good idea to think beyond your dream postcode. Compile a list of places that you would consider that may not have everything that you are seeking but are still pleasant suburbs.
In Auckland, we are fortunately spoilt for choice with so many appealing neighbourhoods with awesome shopping, cafes, reliable public transport, good schools, parks, beaches and more, so don’t set your heart on only one area. According to our in-house statistics and website gurus, these are the ten most popular suburbs researched for rentals:
1. City Centre
2. Papatoetoe
3. Manurewa
4. Pukekohe
5. Papakura
6. Mt Wellington
7. Henderson
8. Mt Roskill
9. Mangere
10.Epsom
Our furry friends create a fiercely competitive market
In the last 90-days, we have had almost 10,000 searches for properties that allow pets. While this is a small percentage of searches overall, the limited number of places that allow dogs and cats still make it hard to find a home. In a competitive rental market like Auckland where there is a bigger pool of renters than rental properties, landlords don’t have to make as many concessions. However, where possible, don’t be afraid to negotiate with a prospective landlord.
Navigating the tough rental market
One property can have many prospective candidates so positioning yourself as an attractive tenant needs to be a part of your action plan. Here are some additional tips to help you navigate the tough rental market:
1. Pre-planning gives you the most agility: If you are seriously looking for a rental versus browsing for interest, then before you click your mouse or open a browser to search, make sure you have your paperwork in place.
2. Make sure you have adequate funds for a deposit and your first month’s rent in your account - ready to transfer. Once you see the ideal property, you can apply immediately edging out those who are keen but are not as prepared placing you at the front of the queue.
3. Act fast! We are all busy, but if you wait until the weekend to schedule a viewing, it may slip away from you.
4. Dress smartly and be on time for viewings with owners and property managers.
5. Signup for alerts on properties of interest to keep updated with new listings as soon as they become available.
6. Be diligent with follow-up. After leaving your meeting or open home with a landlord or property manager, send an email thanking them, along with asking any follow-up questions.