-
January 2024 by Kirsten Z. Deshler
I can't recommend more highly the services provided by Preferred Rental. As both an owner looking to rent my property and as a prospective tenant looking to rent a property for a family member, Preferred Rental has been attentive, thorough, responsive and professional. It is a tough market in Santa Barbara and there are some bad actors. Preferred Rental are the good guys. They are at the top of their game.
-
October 2023 by Sabina K.
Was very disappointed, called, left a voicemail with my phone number, drove by the office, but no response! I don't know how do they work, but definitely not very good!
-
September 2023 by Zeynab Al Obeydi
Horrible customer service. The way they treat the tenants is unacceptable. Ignore calls, do not appear in the office even though it says open in the google. No answer on emails either.
-
February 2023 by ainsley nunez
Terrible service and a complete waste of money. I was in urgent need of housing for work, exhausted all my options, and felt I needed "professional help" so I turned to Preferred Rentals. They did no better than I could've done in searching for housing, sending me Craiglists links that I had already seen in my own search for housing. Not only were they properties I had looked at but they were also completely out of price range despite making my budget very clear. Eventually they found an apartment that I decided to settle on because I had no other options. This was a huge mistake. Leah, one of the owners of Preferred Rentals, claims in her bio that she "enjoys building relationships with landlords" and "linking prospective tenants to properties they will call home" meanwhile she had never even met the landlord I have and never even stepped on the property she was advertising. I was and still am super unhappy with my landlord and the apartment that Preferred Rentals recommended. Leah stopped responding to calls or any form of contact after I moved in. I lost all respect after this. She clearly abuses her family connection and "owner" status of Preferred Rentals to appear as if she has any experience with helping prospective tenants find a home. Preferred Rentals is completely useless and robs you of your money. Once you've signed a rental agreement and they have received their payment, they'll abandon you. I don't recommend this company whatsoever, steer clear and save your money and the misery. I would give a zero star if I could.
-
March 2022 by Gina G.
Talk about "pleasing clients". I had emailed this rental service twice in 1 week, then called and left my number twice a few days apart after the first week. To this day, they haven't responded. Viewing a rental shouldn't be this difficult.
-
February 2022 by Andrew Johnston
Do not fall trap of these botted accounts leaving 5 star reviews. Please save yourself the money and be cautious when dealing with this unprofessional business taking advantage of the lack of housing in Santa Barbara.
-
February 2021 by Donna Ogilvie
Very efficient group
-
February 2021 by Emily Jauchen
I was hesitant to sign up for the $30 PDF service during this COVID-19 time, however there was a note on their sample rental list stating how they were continuing to provide updated listings, just at a limited capacity. One month later and they have only released ONE updated listing. Today is April 29 and their "current" rental guide is dated April 3. I've called, e-mailed and submitted request forms for additional communication and even a refund. Nothing, no response. I noticed they're still posting listings on Craigslist, but no updated sheet.Incredibly frustrating as every other small business has been great in communicating and adapting during these challenging times. I have some patience, but to have no response and no acknowledgment is rude. If you aren't able to operate during this time, simply close and put a note on your website. 10/10 would NOT recommend at ANY time.
-
July 2020 by Sonia L.
I had a wonderful, seamless experience finding my amazing bungalow in Santa Barbara with Preferred Rental Service. Wendy and Leah were extremely responsive, prompt and so fun to work with. I had been looking forever, going back and forth so many times with multiple agencies, headaches, not knowing if I got the place or not. With Preferred it felt like coming home. Thank you ladies SO MUCH!
-
June 2020 by Lisa T.
We moved to Santa Barbara from Georgia and there is no way we would have been able to do it and still be married if it wasn't for Wendy! We ended up with the perfect apartment in an amazing location, all while my husband started a new job and I finished up the school year back in Atlanta. She listened to our needs and budget and even gave tips on how to land the space in such a competitive environment. Thanks and can't wait to move in to our new place!
-
April 2020 by Emily J.
I was hesitant to sign up for the $30 PDF service during this COVID-19 time, however there was a note on their sample rental list stating how they were continuing to provide updated listings, just at a limited capacity. One month later and they have only released ONE updated listing. Today is April 29 and their "current" rental guide is dated April 3. I've called, e-mailed and submitted request forms for additional communication and even a refund. Nothing, no response. I noticed they're still posting listings on Craigslist, but no updated sheet. Incredibly frustrating as every other small business has been great in communicating and adapting during these challenging times. I have some patience, but to have no response and no acknowledgment is rude. If you aren't able to operate during this time, simply close and put a note on your website. 10/10 would NOT recommend at ANY time.
-
February 2020 by Nancy Gilman
Very unpleasant response to my inquiry about a rental for4 to 6 months. A simple yes or no would've sufficed. Brash, impatient, just like a reviewer stated two years ago. Not the owner, she said.
-
July 2019 by Daniel A.
Yes most of the negative reviews are spot on. The lady on the phone is short and a spaz. Hung up on me by accident and then sighed how she has to handle the phoneamd someone who walked in. Unable to multitask and thus gives off a rude vibe. The $30 pdf is a waste - it's like an excel data spreadsheet with no pictures. When you call for a place that says available its really not and they dont update the site. Just do it on your own
-
June 2019 by Michael R.
Just tried to get info about a rental from this company. Pretty bad customer service. Hung up after telling them who would be living there. Not sure if anyone reads these but you might want to work with someone else.
-
February 2019 by Bill H
I recently used Preferred Rental Services for the first time to help me find a renter for a single family residence on the Westside. They sent me a number of very qualified candidates and, to a greater or lesser extent, I would have rented to everyone of them had they applied for the property. I ended up renting to a tenant who'll be there for just a year so next year I'll be using Preferred Rental again to help me find a new tenant. Very satisfied with their service!!
