How to search for rental homes online

Key takeaways

Start broad, then narrow your filters based on real priorities. Begin with only rent, location and bedroom count, then add true “must‑haves” to avoid filtering out good options too early.
Use photos, videos and virtual tours to spot red flags before visiting. Listings with missing rooms, inconsistent images or overly edited visuals may signal issues worth investigating in person.
Evaluate amenities by their real impact on daily life and total costs. Focus on features that save time or money, like laundry, parking or heating, and compare lifestyle value, not just the rent price.

Once you know what type of rental unit you are looking for, it’s time to sit down and see what is available online.

Searching for rentals online is easier than ever, thanks to the increasing amount of information and tools available. On sites such as Homes.com and Apartments.com, renters can search for properties.

Using your must-have list, budget and location, set the search filters. Start with only a few parameters, such as rent price, location and number of bedrooms and then add any “must-haves” to narrow the search.

Set up your search

Identify your rental types (apartment, condo, single-family, etc.)
Start with basic filters only:
- Rent price
- Location
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms
Narrow the search with more “must-haves”
- Air conditioning
- Outdoor space
- Parking
- In-unit washer and dryer
- Fitness centers
- Walk-in closets

Take the time to carefully inspect online listings. “When you’re viewing a property online, the biggest red flags are listings that feel vague, overly perfect or too good to be true,” said Deborah Pisaro, owner of the real estate company Coastline 840, based in Los Angeles, California. “A price that’s far below the neighborhood average without a clear explanation is a common warning sign, as are listings with only a few photos or photos that avoid showing the kitchen, bathroom or closets.”

Inspect pictures, videos and virtual tours

The more visuals, the better. Videos and virtual tours are extremely helpful when trying to get an idea of what the apartment is like.

“One of the biggest updates in rentals, especially since COVID, is the rise of video tours,” said Kyle Davis, senior real estate agent at EXR in New York City. “During that time, it was sometimes the only way to view a unit. I always send a video, especially if it’s a unique layout, to avoid wasting anyone’s time.”

You can filter your search by videos or virtual tours, like Matterport on Homes.com and Apartments.com.

“Some people skip videos and prefer to see a place in person, but I still recommend looking closely at a video or floor plan,” Davis said. “I’ve had clients realize from a video that a room has no closet, the unit is on the ground floor or it faces the train. These are all things that could have been a dealbreaker after traveling to see it.”

Some listings will use physical or virtual staging to help viewers visualize the space's functionality. Remember that staging is also a marketing tactic.

“With staged rentals, the main thing to remember is that staging is designed to sell a feeling, not to show you how the space will live day to day,” Pisaro said. “Furniture used for staging is often smaller than what people actually own, and strategically placed rugs, mirrors and lighting can make rooms look bigger and brighter in photos. When you’re evaluating a staged listing, focus on what matters: the layout, the amount of natural light with blinds open, where a real bed or sofa would fit and whether there’s enough storage.”

Checklist to evaluate real estate photos

Look for listings with multiple photos and angles
Watch any video tours provided
Explore virtual tours (like Matterport) when available
In visuals, look for:
- Natural light levels
- Actual room size and layout
- Closet and storage space
- The floor level or window view
- Noise cues (street, train tracks, etc.)
For staged units:
- Ignore furniture and décor
- Focus on layout, room size and storage
- Consider whether your real furniture will fit

Red flags

Missing key rooms like the kitchen and bathroom
Overly tight or cropped shots that don’t show the space fully
Heavy use of wide angles or unnatural angles to make rooms look bigger
Inconsistent photos or repeated photos
No layout or blueprint
Heavily edited or virtually staged photos without a label or watermark

Check off your must-haves

Once you see the photos, videos and virtual renderings, you should have a good sense of the apartment. Now review your must-have list and see what boxes it appears to check off.

The unit is the most important part, but you will also want to consider the security and amenities of the building. Look for features such as the presence of a concierge or the quality of the gym, if these are important to you. You should have your list ranked by importance, so it is easy to compare.

“The key amenities to look for online are the ones that impact your daily routine and your real monthly costs,” Pisaro said. No “in-unit laundry is a deal breaker for most renters, and dedicated parking are huge quality-of-life upgrades in many markets and can easily be worth paying a bit more for if they save time and stress.”

These features can be filtered online, but often the more parameters you set, the fewer options you have. Try limiting your search to only a few features.

“Heating is required — AC is usually desired,” Pisaro said. “Other amenities that tend to make a noticeable difference are a dishwasher, workable storage and secure entry. Some newer units include internet, which is a great cost saver. It’s also helpful when listings clearly state what utilities are included.”

Luxury buildings may offer high-end amenities, but you need to consider whether they are worth the cost of high rent or high amenity fees.

“Pools and spas are often never used by renters, unless it’s a high-end new property, in which case the amenities are one of the driving factors of the rental price,” Pisaro said.

Pools and outdoor spaces may be more important, depending on where you are renting in the country. In colder climates, pools can only be used a few months of the year, but in hot areas they are year-round amenities.

When considering amenities, think about the value they add to the unit.

“To weigh location, amenities and perks against rent, I think renters should look at the total lifestyle cost, not just the sticker price,” Pisaro said. “A cheaper apartment can become expensive if you’re paying separately for parking, laundry or higher utilities, and commuting costs and time is a cost, too. On the other hand, a slightly higher rent can be a better value if it includes parking, laundry, outdoor space and a location that makes your day easier.”

Set the tour dates

Once you have narrowed down the units to a few possibilities, pick a day or two to tour. Depending on the competitiveness of the market, you may need to sign a lease soon after the tour, so be prepared on the day of your tour.

“Save the units you like, plan your tours for the weekend you’re ready to move forward and be flexible,” Davis said. “If the ‘Goldilocks’ unit shows up, be ready to see it that day. It’s a competitive market, especially for good apartments at fair prices.”

When you reach out to the broker or leasing office, take note of their responsiveness because it could indicate the quality of the apartment building’s management. Type the building's name or management company into a search engine and look for reviews on Redditt, Google and other social media platforms.

Even with high-quality photos and videos, it’s very important to tour a unit in person before signing a lease. There are things that can be missed in pictures, such as the presence of pests.

“The last thing I’d tell people is to verify details early and not assume anything based on photos,” Pisaro said. “Confirm you’re seeing the exact unit you’ll be renting, not a ‘similar unit,’ and ask what’s truly included — appliances, washer/dryer, storage, assigned parking and any restrictions.”

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