In other countries, not in the USA, I've never once had a good experience with renting via an agent. It seems it's in their job description to try to convince

In other countries, not in the USA, I've never once had a good experience with renting via an agent. It seems it's in their job description to try to convince me to pay more for less. They listen carefully to my requirements and then take me to places that don't match at all. I guess they figure since I've taken my entire afternoon with them, and since they've been friendly, I might give up on what I'm looking for and rent whatever it is they decided to shill that day. Of all the countries I've rented in and had occasion to interact with agents, ones in Turkey behaved the most like cartoon caricatures: they use every sitcom used car salesman trick in the book. It would be funny to watch, except that they're perpetually wasting their time and mine.