Showing The Home to Tenants

[davcun1@earthlink.net]

What are some of your strategies for showing your houses. I'm getting a lot of calls and then having to meet them to show the house. I try to prescreen at that time to make sure they're serious and before I give them an application. I've had an 'open house' the last two Saturdays, but I'm getting more action from my sign, ads, etc. The house is about 20 mins away and it's a pain in the rear. Is it just part and parcel of our jobs?

Some of your methods, ideas, strategies would be appreciated.
:D

[Jim FL]

What are some of your strategies for showing your houses. I'm getting a lot of calls and then having to meet them to show the house. I try to prescreen at that time to make sure they're serious and before I give them an application. I've had an 'open house' the last two Saturdays, but I'm getting more action from my sign, ads, etc. The house is about 20 mins away and it's a pain in the rear. Is it just part and parcel of our jobs?

Some of your methods, ideas, strategies would be appreciated.
:D


Davcun,
I feel your pain, we have plenty of houses distant from us.
A few are hours to drive to.
So, when they are for sale, for rent, or rent to own, I screen callers, and set up appointments with more than one group at a time.

When I gather the calls, I'll set up a date and time for all to attend, at once, sometimes staggering them by a few minutes, if its a large group.
I also gather the callers name, and phone number.
I then ask them, once we set the appointment/showing, to please call at least (30 minutes for close houses, an hour for further ones), to confirm.
I call the ones who do not call to confirm, and try to make sure there are no less than 5 prospects seeing the house at once.

This seems to create an atmosphere of competition, and has often helped to keep our selling prices/rent rates at top dollar.

The reason I shoot for no less than 5 showings at once is simple.........2-3 of them will not show.
The more the merrier.

I also hold 'mini open houses', where we will advertise a house distant from us, and state what date and time the home is available to be seen/inspected etc.

This way we can get more than one family thru a house and more exposure as well.

Try doing that, it works for me.

HTH,
Jim FL

[Debbie]

I pretty much do similiar to what Jim handle the showing. :SM144:

[davcun1@earthlink.net]

Great ideas. I tell ya what I get a lot of; meeting to show the house, then having to go back to get the filled out application and fee. They don't have $25 on em...amazing! I try to screen on the initial call also. I ask about jobs, where living now, present lease, total persons, pets, etc. I just now realized I should ask them to bring the app fee with them "...just in case because I don't want to make two trips..." I was leaving apps in my info box along with info sheets but they were taking them and I wasn't getting any back. Amazing. I wish I could get a group of em, but I get a phone call maybe once a day. They are at the house and want to see inside. In that situation, should I tell them it'll be a few days before I can show it? Then try to get a 'group'? I can't afford to lose potential residents; the one calling just might be the 'perfect tenant'. Maybe tell all callers that, "I'll be at the house on ___ at ___. Please bring $25 just in case you decide to fill out an app..."? Did I just answer my own question?

:D

[Debbie]

I usually put a statement on the flyer: "Open house on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 6pm to 7pm and Saturday from Noon to 1pm" or something to that effect.

I also put a statement on the flyer: Rental Application fee: $15.00 per person, age 18 and above.

Regarding applications, I do not leave Rental Applications for anyone to take. I only give out to those who are interested in filling out the application on site along with application fee.

[davcun1@earthlink.net]

Great ideas. I'm definitely going to do the flyer statement about open house. Those evening hours are the way to go; it's after work for most people. How do you afford a $15 app fee? Everywhere I've seen online charge more than that.

Yes, I quit leaving the apps in the info box.

Thanks for the replies!
:D

[Debbie]

How do you afford a $15 app fee? Everywhere I've seen online charge more than that.

:D

I have an account with Mrlandlord.com credit check. I pay $14.95 per potential tenant. The $14.95 includes the fees of credit check and eviction check (nationwide). So we make a profit of a whopping 5 cents out of application fee!

Just in case you ask--what about criminal check? Great question! Since public record is free, we always call our county building or online if from another county or state. Hence, no extra application fee.

[davcun1@earthlink.net]

Cool, thanks Debbie! Gotta get an account with MrLandlord.

[davcun1@earthlink.net]

"...Since public record is free, we always call our county building or online if from another county or state..."

Not sure what you mean...?...

[Debbie]

"...Since public record is free, we always call our county building or online if from another county or state..."

Not sure what you mean...?...

We call the county building for criminal check, bankruptcy check, etc. We call the county building because it is not available via online in my county.

If we have potential tenant from another county or state, we check to see if public records are available via online. If not, we still call that county or state's building to check potential tenant's criminal/eviction/bankruptcy check.

[Runum]

Regarding screening out unsuitable tenants. I have begun using those info boxes the real estate agents use. I print my for rent information on fliers and leave them in there. I make sure to include my stipulations, restrictions, rent, deposits, application fees.... Now I usually only get calls from those that will be able to accommodate my rules. Good luck to all.

Greg