u/Better_Late---

Sold my house in NY, have to be out by 6-15. I’ve been reading every SF thread for a year, so I knew finding an apartment was going to be tough, but it’s tougher than I’d feared.

I was an innocent naif for the first two weeks of looking, trying to secure the one seemingly perfect spot that fit all my requirements. But the apartment I still dream of disappeared after they set a time for me to view it. Same thing happened with the next two—all was well, then I was ghosted.

Got a little wiser, and attached myself to Zillow and Craigslist, checking it many times a day and applying for anything that was close to my requirements within an hour or two of the listing appearing. Got close, or so the leasing agents said, on two more, but no luck.

Then I hit upon a very promising prospect: a market-rate condo blocks from my office. I had several long, pleasant phone calls with the owner, but she insisted she had to have the open house since it wouldn’t be fair to cancel it. Of course, she picked someone else. Same thing happened with a rent-controlled place. Had encouraging phone calls, was told I was the leading candidate, then he went with someone else.

We’ve got very high credit scores, we earn a bit more than 3x the annual rent, we have 401ks, we have stable, non-tech-related jobs, no pets, no smoking, no kids, excellent references.

I’m thinking, in retrospect, that both of the last two gatekeepers wanted me to offer more than the asking price, or, in the case of the rent-controlled one, cash up front. Nothing like that was stated, but I just caught a vibe. Like they could be convinced if I sweetened the deal. Is that the way to reach the top of the list of eager applicants? If this is the norm, I’ll go along, but I don’t really know how to play that game. Do I bring an envelope full of hundreds and drop it next to their feet?

BTW, many people have advised me to rent an Air B&B for a few months, but the rates are a minimum of $6000 a month, quickly climbing to $8500. Add to that the storage fees for my stuff, and having to hire movers again, and it seems wiser to grab a good-enough place in a neighborhood I like and live with it for a year, hoping it turns out to be a good fit.

Advice on how to close a deal?

I found an apartment listing that’s having an open house tomorrow. I could, with difficulty, fly to SF to attend. But I’m under no illusion that I will be the one who wins—if it’s even something I want. I’ve used Task Rabbit in NYC to hire people to do things for me, but I don’t know if that’s what San Franciscans do.

I called a few RE agents friends recommended, and they weren’t willing to take on the job—even when I made it clear I’d pay them for their time.

Suggestions? The task involves showing up, likely waiting in line, then doing a FaceTime of the unit while they walk around it.