I've been introduced to a national website www.zillow.com and its a fabulous place to start your research. One thing I like about Zillow is that the property manager normally have their links at the bottom of page, thus making it easier to get in touch with them. If your move is many months in advance you can start your search 8-6 weeks out by emailing property managers your needs (bedrooms, bathrooms, pets, fenced yard, etc).
Some property managers are less than truthful or don't take care of their property. Things to look for in photos:
-Time Stamp (if the photo is more than 3 months old ask for more recent photos and or a video walk through).
-Broken items (I've seen so many photos with broken cabinets, cracked windows, or mirrors). I truly believe that if a property manager takes care of their property they will not take photos and post the property until its ready.
-Trash in the yard or on property. My current property manager has a someone come do the front lawns every week. I rarely see any trash on the drive or in the lawns.
The Neighborhood:
Take a digital walk in the neighborhood. Using Google maps you can take a digital walk through the neighborhood. Things I looked for are the cars similar or nicer than yours, if not then you'll have the nice car in the neighborhood and could be a target. Find out the rent of other similar home in the area. Check the crime rate many websites this function.
It's important to have phone numbers, fax, and a physical location for the property manager. If it sounds to good to be true it probably is. Beware of scam artists.
