Washington DC is one of the most competitive cities for summer sublet. At any time of the year there are a large number of people watching craigslist’s new entries for housing, emailing quickly to set up appointments, and going through an interview after another with roommates. Trust me, it is not fun especially for a academic hermit like me. Fortunately I never had to find a summer sublet in this city, but rather was on the side of offering a room and selecting a subtenant. I have also seen my friends in DC getting hundreds of emails about summer sublets and selecting the most reasonable-looking people just based on their emails.
It is amazing to see how many people have no idea of how this works and how competitive it is to get temporary housing under $1000/month in DC. I would like to list quite obvious yet often ignored tips.
1. Don’t ask questions that are already explained in the craigslist post already.
I understand that people are responding to multiple posts, copying & pasting the same content in all emails. Don’t do that. Build a system in which you can trace which posts you have emailed to — one way is not to change the title of email; another way is to copy original craigslist posts somewhere else.
2. In most cases, you cannot negotiate the rent.
Remember, summer sublets in DC are very competitive. Unless the listed rent is extravagantly expensive, you have little chance to be able to negotiate the rent. You can request pro-rate, but not the reduction in rent itself.
3. Don’t make unreasonable requests.
It is funny to see that so many people make weird requests. “Can I bring two cats and one dog?” “Can I bring my own furniture?” “Can I rent the room only on weekends?”
4. Explain your background briefly, and preferably demonstrate that what you mention could be verified.
Don’t elaborate on how “fun” and “trustworthy” a person you are, but just give simple facts about yourself. It is a big plus if you have a website that shows your resume or professional affiliation etc.
5. You cannot avoid paying a key deposit in advance.
I don’t understand why people refuse to pay deposits. I know it is risky to pay money to someone you don’t know, but it is risky for the subleaser, too, for not getting the deposit at all. If you are worried, ask your friend or colleague to see the room and meet the subleaser, and be ready to pay the deposit and first month rent right away.