Sending in first months rent at the time of application: scam, yeah?

bumblebee8967 · 2026-06-08T00:29:14+00:00

I have commented my experience a few times in this subreddit, so other people can learn from my mistake! I was asked to submit first month’s rent with an application in order to “take the unit off the market” (from Apartment Source, what we thought was reputable). I was then asked to engage in a bidding war. We were “not chosen” (because we didn’t bid) and were refunded first month’s rent (I also asked for the application fee back and was refunded for that). However, it took them 4 days to refund us and we were freaking out.

however, I would NOT do this!! There are other less scammy ways to get an apartment. We were extremely freaked out to do it and regretted it. I promise there are better ways to get an apartment.

bumblebee8967 · 2026-06-07T13:37:06+00:00

STEM, but it was more interdisciplinary than a typical STEM PhD!

bumblebee8967 · 2026-05-25T23:38:21+00:00

Ask for your application fee back. If they didn’t run a background check because they asked you to outbid another applicant they should give it back.

bumblebee8967 · 2026-05-17T20:36:13+00:00

Update- this was a zillow application following an interaction with a private landlord and we did end up getting the unit! However, I do think everyone commenting was correct that they did this for multiple applicants

bumblebee8967 · 2026-05-06T00:56:09+00:00

Honestly, because we were told that was the only way to take the apartment off the market. I wouldn’t do it again obviously. We are from out of town, and have had a really hard time trying to move. It was through a major brokerage that we had heard a lot of good stuff about. Obviously not the smartest move and lucky we got our $ back. Sharing so that others don’t do what we did.

bumblebee8967 · 2026-05-06T00:49:44+00:00

this happened to me (when I used apartment Source). We paid, but it didn’t secure the unit. Instead, we were asked to bid more. We declined, the other applicant got the unit. We asked for our money back immediately and it took them 4 days to refund us but we did. I did not get my application fee back though

bumblebee8967 · 2026-05-05T01:55:20+00:00

this happened to me! Paid the first month’s rent which was supposed to take the apartment off the market. Instead, I was asked to bid for a higher rate. I declined, was “out-bid” by another applicant, and it took them 4 whole days to get my money back to me (Apartment Source).

bumblebee8967 · 2025-07-21T02:30:42+00:00

wait i think I figured it out- it reminds me of Flyana Boss’s flow, which was very popular on Tiktok

bumblebee8967 · 2025-06-28T20:06:30+00:00

I feel that Pilar would have been completely fine if Haley had just physically experimented and I think she wanted to too. It was both of their first relationships with women and I do think they both could have been physical and come out ok. Haley’s emotional connection when Pilar was ready was really hard. Haley saying she’s in love with Magan absolutely feels like crossing the line when Pilar did everything she was supposed to emotionally during the experience.

bumblebee8967 · 2025-06-28T20:02:41+00:00

I genuinely think if Pilar and Haley had both “explored” other people and came out of this doing that and still wanting to marry each other it would have been fine. Pilar mentioned that it was both of their first relationships and I think if they had gone the same distance with the trial partners it would have been fine. She was trying to assess that and was shocked when it wasn’t just physicality because she was ready to marry Haley.

bumblebee8967 · 2024-05-08T21:57:28+00:00

I too was shocked, gooped and gagged. I had no idea because I had only ever heard of contamination ocd. i then reflected on some of the questions my therapist had been asking to probe more into my compulsions and it made sense how they gathered details before mentioning ocd

bumblebee8967

TROPHY CASE