it is ALWAYS a good idea to use a real estate agent to conduct your business-ask some of your Friends if they would refer an agent to you. AGAIN- ALWAYS USE AN AGENT.

Never rent privately, always use an agency, they have solid contracts in place, to protect you and the owner.

Yes. You need to use an agency that does rentals and bills the owner. Ask these two questions up front.

That’s really up to you in most cases. If you happen to be looking for an apartment in Manhattan the only way to find one is through an agent. As I’m sure it probably is in other major metro areas.

If you are so busy that you can’t find time to look for a place, an agent might be a good thing for you to consider. Bear in mind they don’t work for free. In some cases the agent has been contracted by the owner so you won’t have to pay but if you hire one to act on your behalf be prepared to shell out a month’s rent as a fee. It’s a small price to pay vs. missing countless days of work going all over town to look at dumps.

One work of warning; There are companies out there called rental referral agencies, (among other names) that will charge you a fee to have access to their “exclusive” rental listings. Their exclusive list is also known by another name. The Newspaper Classifieds.

Jen is right about an agent needing compensation. In a home buying transaction the cost of the agent (both for the buyer and seller) is paid for by the seller.

When a person uses a real estate agent or agency to rent the house out pays the agent something (usually a month’s worth of rent) to fill the apartment. It MIGHT work the same way that your agent and the listing agent would split the commission and it wouldn’t cost you anything. This can only possibly work for homes for rent through an agency. I don’t know what would happen if you were also looking at things listed in the paper and had an agent. They might charge you at that point.

Call one and ask!

If your a busy person, and just dont have the time and effort into locating a new rental then I would say yes, its a great idea, but just remember, they usually come at a cost.
Good Luck, and happy house hunting!