Renting apartments and the 20% agency fee.

[greenkomodo]

Most apartments here, especially the good ones and furnished are let by agencies. They always asking for 15-20% of the contract for literally just recieving a whatsapp inquiry messages from zonaprop and then asking you when you can view property. They probably do a few more things but nontheless are expats and local people actually paying this what seems to be ridiculous fee. I am aware of the direct renting filter but doesn't exactly leave much.

 

[barg]

How long are you here for? It's actually cheaper at the moment in the furnished markets to do AirBNB monthly rentals than rent through an estate agent. You can stay for a month or two then go direct with the landlord and pay 15% or so less. The exception would be if you need to be in a specific place for years.

Buenos Aires estate agents are scum and best avoided. Right now, it's financially better to not have to deal with them as well.

 

[greenkomodo]

I have been changing airbnbs every month for the last 10 months, every time something is just wrong or the owner is such a cheapskate they won't even buy the most basic stuff for me or you have super loud dogs next door. It was the same thing in Colombia where I lived for 3 years, properties are just crap in this part of the world it seems.

But anyway I am looking to rent something for 12 months or longer if it's good. Everyone says to find a place on Airbnb and then go private but unfortunately the good apartments in zona prop are like 1.2k-1.4k range (excluding fees etc) and the equivalent for that are like 2k minimum on airbnb. I want 3 ambientes and that barely exists on Airbnb as that size apartment is not really the target of travellers or people on airbnb. These places are generally booked well in advance also so to take a month to risk then asking if the owner would even do direct for a few months is unlikely and a risky strategy. Cancelling bookings can get them banned from airbnb. I'm surprise so many people say this and have luck.

Anyway thanks for the post, I will try to avoid them then.

 

[barg]

I have been changing airbnbs every month for the last 10 months, every time something is just wrong or the owner is such a cheapskate they won't even buy the most basic stuff for me or you have super loud dogs next door. It was the same thing in Colombia where I lived for 3 years, properties are just crap in this part of the world it seems.

But anyway I am looking to rent something for 12 months or longer if it's good. Everyone says to find a place on Airbnb and then go private but unfortunately the good apartments in zona prop are like 1.2k-1.4k range (excluding fees etc) and the equivalent for that are like 2k minimum on airbnb. I want 3 ambientes and that barely exists on Airbnb as that size apartment is not really the target of travellers or people on airbnb. These places are generally booked well in advance also so to take a month to risk then asking if the owner would even do direct for a few months is unlikely and a risky strategy. Cancelling bookings can get them banned from airbnb. I'm surprise so many people say this and have luck.

Anyway thanks for the post, I will try to avoid them then.

Sry your experience has been crap. I've found two really nice long term furnished AirBNBs that I started with renting for a month then went direct. I went to see them both before starting the AirBNB first month if you haven't tried that.

Based on my experience $2k is the absolute minimum for an OK 3 bedroom AirBNB. A nice 3 bedroom in Palermo is going to run more like $2.5k-$3k including expenses on AirBNB or ZonaProp. $2k including all expenses for a decent 3bd doable if you are looking in less expensive neighborhoods. Go down to 2bd and I'd think you can get a really nice place for $2k including expenses on AirBnb.