Advertising, Phone Calls, and Showings

Angie W. · 2013-10-15T08:52:14-07:00

On the last go round of finding tenant for our SFR 3 years ago we were new. We stuck a sign in the yard and when someone called we went running (we live within 5 minutes) to show the property. This time I am taking a more educated and organized approach. Here's what I have set up so far and keep tweaking as I go along. 1.Set up a Google Voice # specifically for the rental - includes a brief description of the property as well as requirements if I don't pick up the call 2. Programmed the GV number in my phone with a special ring tone so that I know to be prepared and answer the phone more professionally 3. Made up a call log sheet to keep track of calls. I included all of the important points about the property as well as minimum requirements so that I don't forget anything and check them off as I go along. 4. Listed the property on Craig's List - with a detailed listing including some pictures. I did not list the address - only the area of town and disabled the email option 5. Put a sign in the front yard. Since Friday I have fielded approx. 50 calls/voicemails. I have already learned some of the following: 1.Lead with #of BD/BA,no basement, monthly rent, and SD. This info tends to end 40% of the calls right away for the one that have seen the sign. 2. If they stay on the line I then pull out my sheet and start going through the info and asking questions before I agree to show them the property. 3.If they are calling from Craig's list I do not offer the address right away, only the nearest cross streets. Most times I make the appointment and tell them I will call them an hour before our appointment time with the address and directions. 4. If they saw my sign and make an appointment, I call them an hour before the appointment to confirm. 5. I also set up an appointment calendar and try to schedule showings close to each other. Out of all of these calls I have scheduled 10 appointments, 3 from the sign were no shows so far (which led to the confirmation call). I've observed that the sign generates more calls but not necessarily more leads. And so far all of my Craig's List appointments have shown up but not applied. Would anyone else like to share their strategies or things they have learned. How do you advertise your property? How do you handle phone calls and showings?

Roy N.Pro Member

Rental Property Investor · Fredericton, New Brunswick · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes

12y

@Angie W.

Looking good on the call logging/screening. We also set-up an e-mail address specific to each unit we are advertising and include it in our on-line advertisements. E-mail to this address is handled by an auto-responder which responds to the enquiry with more information about the unit/property, a copy of our application & guidelines, and available viewing times.

With respect to showing units we have traditionally set aside blocks of times - say two or three evenings and a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Within these blocks we book 20-minute viewing appointments with 5-minutes between them. We do not show the property outside of these viewings.

We accept applications throughout the viewing windows and up until a set date following the final viewing {we communicate this date to all prospective tenants}. We then process applications in the order received and offer the property to the first qualified applicant.

After saying all the above, we have altered our approach to showing some properties - our student houses in particular - thanks to input from @Dawn Anastasi. In these cases, we are holding more of an Open House where we tell all interested prospects that we will be showing the house between {say} 14:00 and 16:00 on Saturday. We are experimenting to see if this works as well, or better, than blocks of appointments.

Advertising, Phone Calls, and Showings

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