6 March 2024

Is ImmoScout MietenPlus worth it? – Experience report

My girlfriend and I have been trying out ImmoScout Plus (MieterPlus) over the last few days and would like to share our impressions with you today.

We want to tell you honestly, whether ImmoScout MieterPlus is worthwhile in our opinion – or not.

Please remember: This is just our personal experience and everyone may have different experiences with it.

What ImmoScout Plus offers

ImmoScout Plus offers the following features:

Contact request always lands at the top of the provider's mailbox
Exclusive ads with early contact
Assess additional information and opportunities (these were actually mostly useful)
A current credit report every month
Professional application portfolio in digital form
More about TenantPlus

Reasons – Why we booked it

My partner & I are looking for an apartment. We came across one that only accepts messages from tenants plus members.

Our search led us to a particularly attractive apartment that seemed to offer exactly what we were looking for: ideal location, perfect size and within our budget. However, there was one hurdle - the opportunity to contact the provider was exclusively limited to TenantPlus members.

This limitation put us in a position where we had to make an important decision. The housing market doesn't wait, and any delay could mean we miss out on our dream home.

After thinking about and weighing up the advantages of tenantPlus, we decided to book the service.

Comparison table: Basic version vs. TenantPlus

Function	Basic version	TenantPlus
Contact requests per month	Unlimited	Unlimited
Placement of contact requests	Normal	Always at the top of the provider's mailbox
Access to exclusive real estate listings	No	Yes
Early contact	No	Yes
Additional information on chances of success	No	Yes
Monthly credit report	No	Yes
Professional digital application folder	No	Yes
Rent payment confirmation	No	Yes
Proof of income	No	Yes
Legal protection (damages)	No	Yes (included in some packages)

More about ImmoScout+

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

Increased visibility:

Your contact request will always be displayed at the top of the provider's inbox, which increases the likelihood that you will receive a response.

Exclusive ads:

Access to exclusive real estate listings before they are made available to the general public. This gives you a time advantage when applying for an apartment.

Credit report:

Monthly updated credit report, which improves your chances when applying as landlords can easily check your financial background.

Professional application folder:

Support with the creation of a professional digital application folder, which includes important documents such as rent payment confirmations and proof of income.

Additional information:

The service provides additional information on the apartments on offer and makes it easier to assess the chances of success when applying.

Disadvantages

Cost:

The service is subject to a fee and the additional monthly expenses can quickly add up, especially if the apartment search takes longer.

Dependence:

A heavy reliance on the platform could make you less likely to consider other, possibly cheaper or equivalent, housing search options.

Not guaranteed:

Despite the advantages and additional functions, there is no guarantee that you will find an apartment faster. Success still depends on many factors that are beyond your control.

Conclusion – Was it worth it for us?

To be honest: No.

But first things first:

We thought that was good 👍

One of the most striking advantages was the ability to see how many inquiries an advertisement had already received. This transparency gave us valuable insights into the popularity and therefore the competition for certain apartments. It allowed us to tailor our search strategy and focus our efforts on listings where our chances were more realistic.

Another plus point was that Application folderthat we were able to create through TenantPlus. This digital folder, including confirmation of rent payment and proof of income, made it possible for us to stand out from other applicants and present landlords with a structured and convincing overview of our reliability and financial stability.

The advantage of ours was also not to be underestimated Schufa score can be calculated monthly. Ensuring that our financial situation is up to date and transparent to potential landlords was a crucial factor that strengthened our position as applicants.

Transparency in inquiries
Application folder
Current Schufa score

We thought that was bad ❌

Despite the obvious benefits that TenantPlus brings, we encountered a key problem that dampened our initial enthusiasm. In short, despite prioritizing our requests and taking advantage of all exclusive features, The response from providers was disappointingly low. Many landlords or real estate agents to whom we sent our applications did not respond at all to our attempts to contact them. This experience was repeated for a large number of advertisements, which led us to the sobering realization that in most cases the status as a tenantPlus member did not make a noticeable difference.

In what felt like 99% cases, it seemed as if our membership and the associated benefits had no influence on the providers' decisions. Although we were able to put our inquiries at the top of your inbox through TenantPlus, it didn't have the desired effect. This discrepancy between the expected benefits of membership and the real experience in the housing market led to some frustration and questioned the value of investing in the service.

Low response from providers
Lack of effectiveness of membership
Frustration and doubt about the value of the investment

In our case, ImmoScout MietenPlus was not worth it. But that doesn't mean that the package is bad in principle. Everyone has their own experiences.

Our experience shows that, although MieterPlus offers many helpful features, the success of your apartment search depends on many factors that are beyond your control: The willingness of providers to respond to inquiries and give preferential treatment to MieterPlus members is simply not guaranteed.

This insight is essential for future users of the service who may have similarly high expectations of the effectiveness of their membership.

After we realized that MieterPlus did not meet our expectations, we made use of the right of withdrawal. This process went really smoothly and the remaining money was refunded to us immediately.

Despite our disappointment with the effectiveness of the service, this customer service experience was positive.

Then ImmoScout MieterPlus is worthwhile:

ImmoScout MieterPlus offers a variety of benefits that can significantly benefit certain tenants. Here are some scenarios in which the service is particularly worthwhile:

Safety and protection benefitsThe service offers tenants legal protection and loss of rent insurance. This provides additional security and financial protection in the event of legal disputes or if the landlord suddenly has payment difficulties.
Applicant benefitsThanks to the professional tenant certificate, which includes a credit check and other relevant information, tenants can stand out and increase their chances of being approved for an apartment. Landlords often prefer applicants with solid credit records and reliable backgrounds.
Exclusive advance accessTenantPlus members often get the opportunity to see new property listings before anyone else. This can be a crucial advantage in a highly competitive real estate market by giving tenants more time to respond to suitable listings.
Benefits and discountsThe service also offers discounts on removal companies and other services, which is particularly attractive when a move is imminent and additional costs are incurred.

Then it's not worth it:

Although the service offers many advantages, there are also situations in which MieterPlus may not be worthwhile. Here are some examples:

Stable housing situationIf you already have a stable housing situation and are not planning to move in the near future, the benefits of the service may be less relevant to you. The additional protections and priority for new offers may not be necessary in this case.
Good financial backgroundIf you already have a good credit rating and don't need additional proof of creditworthiness, ImmoScout's main selling point - the professional tenant certificate - may be less valuable to you.
Cost-benefit ratioConsider the monthly cost of the subscription. If the benefits offered do not justify the cost because you rarely or never need them, the service may not be worth it for you.
Access to alternative resourcesYour current resources and networks may already be sufficient. You may have access to other services that offer similar protections and benefits at no additional cost, or you may live in an area with little competition in the rental market.