Is an Apartment Locator Free?
Yes, for the renter. In Dallas, most apartment communities pay a licensed locator a fee when a renter the locator sent signs a lease. You do not pay the locator, and using one does not change the rent the building charges you.
Why buildings pay locators
A building pays to fill empty units, whether through listing sites, signs, ads or locators. A locator only gets paid when a lease is signed, so for the building it is a cost that comes with a result.
The one step that matters
Most buildings only pay a locator who is named on your first visit. When you tour, tell the leasing office who sent you, or write the locator's name on the guest card. If you toured a building on your own before, tell your locator, because that building may not count the referral.
Locators in Texas must be licensed
Locating apartments for a fee in Texas requires a real estate license from the Texas Real Estate Commission. You can look up any agent on the TREC website. Pony Up Properties Group is a team brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group.
What to ask any locator
- Are you licensed in Texas, and who is your broker?
- Do you send real units with today's prices, or starting prices?
- Do you include parking, pet rent and required fees in what you send?
- Will I ever pay you anything? (The answer should be no.)
Questions people ask
Do apartment locators cost money in Dallas?
Not for the renter. Most Dallas apartment communities pay the locator a fee after you sign a lease.
Does using a locator raise my rent?
No. The building sets the same rent whether you came through a locator, a listing site or a walk in.
What happens if I forget to mention my locator?
The building may not pay the locator. Tell the leasing office who sent you on the first visit, or list the locator on the guest card.
General information. Each building sets its own rules and prices, and we confirm them with the leasing office.