Free apartment finders cost you more than you think. I don’t know about other cities, but they definitely cost you in Dallas-Ft. Worth area.

I should know. I used them time and time again as I moved from place to place across the Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) area to find a place. And almost always, I never ended up going for any of the places they recommended.

Here’s what I’ve since learned: Agents work for commissions.

They are running a volume game. They are experts at bait & switch.

Let’s go through all their tactics.

The Hand-Off Method

This is when these locators will put up very attractive listings. But then pass you on to one of their colleagues (someone lower in the chain). This person will ultimately funnel you the same garbage list that you can find on Zillow yourself.

The Bait and Switch

While the above looks like a legitimate reason why a property I was interested in was taken up, when it keeps happening over and over again with different places, I know something is up.

It turns out people create a “too good to be true” deal on Facebook and other places just to generate leads for themselves.

Agents often put up attractive listings on Facebook and other places and then ask for your number to send you more details. Of course this never happens.

The Radio Silence

In this case, the agent just decided to not even bother and “sold” the property in question without even following up at all. Prepare to be ghosted often from a locator who is too busy or does not have a team of minions to do the work.

All Roads Lead to Commission

No matter which tactic you fall under, it all ends up in the same place.

They end up sending you a list of a 50-80 properties.

Expect to get something like that from this terrible site called SmartApartmentData.com.

Don’t bother trying to save favorites, they don’t work. Don’t bother trying to get information about the areas, it doesn’t give you any.

You will basically spend all your time sifting through this nonsense list with barely usable filters.

And your reward? Why you have to mention your locator when you get for a tour. For this privilege, the property will pay this locator 50% of your first month’s rent.

In 2025, this amounts to a nice fat commission of $750-$2000. All for slapping together a list which you can pull yourself from Zillow, Redfin, or Trulia.

How generous of you!

Oh sure, they might say they do a lot more than that. But in the years I’ve moved around, they really haven’t.

It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it

Upton sinclair

Traditional apartment locators get paid by the properties they recommend —
not by you. That means if a great place doesn’t offer a commission? You’ll never
hear about it.

Why Home Scout Advisor is different

I started this because I’m a renter like you. I’ve gone through the pain of this over and over again. The Zillow searches, the locator’s empty promises, and more.

You can read my full story on here.

With HomeScoutAdvisor, I work only for you. No hidden incentives, no backroom
deals — just clear, honest guidance based on your needs, your values, and your
life.

Like a travel guide vs. a hotel promoter

Most agents are like hotel promoters who only show you places they get a cut
from — not the best options for your trip. I’m more like a travel guide who
understands your style and helps you pick the right place for your journey.

Like a wedding planner vs. a vendor directory

A locator shows you a big directory. I’m more like a wedding planner — I get to
know you, eliminate poor fits, and make sure the choice is something you’ll
actually be happy with.

Like a fiduciary financial advisor vs. a commission-based broker

Would you trust a financial advisor who gets paid more based on what product
they push you into? That’s what most apartment locators are. I’m more like a
fiduciary — I get paid to serve you, not sell you.

Why you need someone on your side

We often don’t question it:

Why do apartment locators offer their service for free?

It’s because they don’t work for you — they work for the buildings.

This model was built for volume, not care. Their job is to fill units, not help you
find a life that works.

That’s why you get a long list of half-matching properties. That’s why no one tells
you about the roaches, the hidden fees, or the screaming construction next
door.

That’s why no one asks what you really want.

I believe something radical:

If you’re making one of the most important decisions in your life — where you’ll
live — then someone should be on your side, not on the building’s payroll.

I work for you. That means:

• I eliminate the overwhelm
• I filter what won’t work. And give you the reason why, so you can feel
  confident whether to write something off or not.
• I guide you to what feels like home

That’s not just a service. That’s a new standard.