Testimonial from our founder:
As a former broker in training in NYC, I was trained to get the people in the door and do whatever it takes until
they sign a lease. We were trained to use tricky play on words and I will never forget my last day at work where I was
meeting a sweet couple to sign their lease. They were still confused and not ready to sign and they could not really
afford the brokers fee. The woman was in tears and her mate was consoling her. I stepped away to give them a few
moments and called my manager which was protocol if ANYTHING got in the way of the lease being signed at the designated time,
and I remember her SCREAMING at me through the phone to DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO! GET THEM TO SIGN THAT LEASE!
I returned to the couple and told them, that there are many apartments just
like the ones I showed them that are available with NO FEE and in fact it is only the broker that charges the fee. The woman
hugged me and thanked me for my honesty and we parted ways without signing any lease. it was such a relief to see that
weight lifted off of her shoulders and the tears dry. Although I understand that business is business, humanity is much more
important to me and I could not be a part of something that was STEALING from people. Unnecessary and outrageous fees
that people were being charged was heartbreaking to watch. Although my commissions were enormous and it could have been
a great living, I could not be a part of such a thing. My job with that brokers firm was short lived and after that
day I parted ways with them and told my manager that I sent those people to find the no fee apartments and I quit. After
that I decided that I could educate and help others who are blinded and do not realize that all of those apartments that the
brokers have access to and show are mostly NO FEE apartments and it is only the broker that charges the fee. That is
what led me to the creation of Skip the brokers fee website in 2008. I have since helped hundreds of people save thousands
of dollars and saved them from the brokers world. Although there is a small fee for our services, this mostly covers
our expenses to run the site and pay our employees. We are not getting rich off of your hard earned dollar like the brokers
do. I wish you the best of luck in your search and we are always available completely free of charge to answer any questions
that you may have on how to locate property managers directly yourself. We do appreciate your business as a signed on member
that helps to keep us up and running, but will not turn you away if you are in need of help and can not afford our membership
fee. Call Customer service for a hardship application if you want to become a member but simply can not afford to pay
the full membership fee up front and they will work with you. Good Luck and God Bless.
Tips and things that the brokers DO
NOT want you to know
How to avoid being lured in by the brokers:
Many brokers
will tell you that they have "no fee" apartments and even list them in advertisements online and in papers to get
you in the door. Some have been known to use ghost ads which are ads showing photos of beautiful apartments that do
not exist and or are not available. The purpose of using this ad is to make you fall in love with the photos, get you
to call on it, tell you that it's already rented but that they have others like it, and hook line and sinker, they just reeled
you in the door! When you visit the brokers office you will probably be asked to fill out a simple information
form and sign the bottom. BEWARE OF THE FINE PRINT! Many of those forms are an agreement that you are consenting to when signing that you
agree to pay the broker a fee which is usually 15% of the annual rent.
They may also tell you that some of the landlords have agreed to pick up the fees.
The founder of our company
is a former broker, and who saw just how much people were being ripped off thousands and thousands of dollars on apartments
that truly have no fee, it is the broker charging the fee... We decided to protect the renter/consumer and begin this service
to save you thousands. One of the discoveries made during our founders time as a broker is that you get what you pay for when
using a broker and the "no fee" and "landlord pays the fee" are the worst apartments that they will show
you, and then they will show you the apartment of your dreams and you are already sucked in by having signed their agreement.
Brokers are specifically trained to play on words when speaking to you so that you give them the response that they
want, such as "don't you agree" they are trained to put the image that you agree into your head by that small
play on words, and believe me it works. Be cautious and careful when dealing with brokers, as they are in it all for
the $$$ and not so much interested in your comfort and happiness as a consumer.
Do
not ever sign anything without having it reviewed by an attorney which is available through our membership free of charge.
Call us for free answers to commonly asked questions before going to visit
a brokers office.
