Quick question about renting

Hi,

I am moving out to the Burnaby/New Westminster area from Ontario this Sunday. I've been scouring Craigslist for apartments or condos for the past two weeks, and I've sent at least a dozen messages. However, not a single person has gotten back to me, either via email or my rental applications (even though I've written that I have references, proof of income, single, non-smoker, no pets, etc). Am I taking the wrong approach to this? Should I just go around in person and look for vacancies once I arrive? I'm staying in a hotel for a week once I arrive, but I don't know how long I can afford to actually live out of one...

Any advice is welcome. Thanks!