Doug Thompson had already applied for roughly 30 homes in two months when an Oakland landlord invited him to make his best offer.
The landlord had listed a 1,100-square-foot, one-bedroom in-law unit in the Glenview neighborhood for $3,000 a month, with skyline views from an expansive back deck. But by the time Thompson and his girlfriend toured it last weekend, another prospective tenant had offered to pay $200 above the asking price and sign a two-year lease.
“Is there anything you want to do to stand out in a crowded field?” Thompson recalled the landlord asking…