List Now or Wait Till Ready to Show?

Question

We have a 1/1 apartment coming up for rent in 7 weeks. Should we list it now even though it is not ready for viewing or wait to list when ready to show? When is an ideal time to list a property for rent? What are pros and cons of listing now or listing when ready to view?

Kim Meredith Hampton · Answer

I think it’s best to list when it looks it’s best and ready to be seen, but if you have great photos and your market is especially busy, I would list now.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Everyone has their own opinion. I start marketing rentals 15 - 30 days before they are vacant, but only if the Tenant keeps the home well. If they are messy, not good people, or they are leaving under less-than-ideal conditions, then I'll wait until they are out to market it.

If you're renovating a place, I recommend you start marketing within 1-2 weeks of it being available. It should be close enough that people can safely move through the space, envision furnishings, and get an idea of how the finished product will look.

Mordy Chaimovitz · Answer

When a listing sits for a while people look at it and think that it's not getting rented because there is something wrong with it.

additionally. You want to get the best possible pics to put on your listing. And those pics will only be taken when it's ready to show.

You could put up a sign in front that says "coming soon" with a phone number or email address, so people who would be interested can contact you.

But don't list it until you are ready to show.

Taylor Dasch · Answer

I would wait as well. Its so much easier to get rented and if the new tenant cant even rent it out right now, you will be advertising to a market that is actively looking and will likely have a place by the time the apt is available.

Adam Martin · Answer

This is something I am still playing with to find the best timing.  I used to wait until it was 100% move in ready but the issue is most quality tenants need 2-4 weeks to be ready to move so I had more vacancy.  Then I waited until it was about 80-90% complete which I found was the sweet spot.  Walls were primarily painted but I may be doing some touch up and the place was clean but not quite up to my standards for things such as windows, touching up the oven ect.  My benefit here is I like to set 30 minute blocks to view after prescreening so if I had a no show or lull in showings I could just keep cleaning and not waste time.  Recently I tried renting out a house that was a bit of a fixer upper.  I was replacing all flooring and had the boxes and 1 room done to show what it would look like and was painting more and more each day.  Prospective tenants didn't see my vision and there was no way I was going to get top dollar so I took it off the mkt and listed again a couple weeks later when it was 90%.  I was just wasting time showing when I could have been working on completing the house so that people would be interested.

Kimothy Bynum · Answer

I'm currently listing my unit and I waited until it was ready and clean. I had to take pictures and I wanted it to be in the best shape. So i would wait till its ready to show.

Lien Vuong · Answer

Depending on your market, it'll take 30-90 days to rent a unit and considering that you're going to be ready in the new year which is the slowest time for rentals I would list it as soon as you can assuming you have good pics and presentable conditions for prospective tenants to review it.

Greg M. · Answer

Your goal is to make as much money as possible. The best and easiest way to do this is to reduce vacancy time. I don't know about you, but every single day one of my units is vacant, I lose a minimum of $75 and sometimes much more. Therefore, I don't want to list when it is vacant and the new tenants have to wait out their prior lease.

List the unit around a month before you think it will be move-in ready. Make it as clear as possible: AVAILABLE JULY 5th. Put in your lease wording as to what happens if you can't provide the unit to the new tenant due to factors outside your control. You should have pics of the unit when you tried to rent it in the past. Use these for the listing. Your lease should have wording on allowing you to show the unit to potential tenants while the current ones are still under lease. Try to minimize showings and be respectful of the current tenant, but if you get push back, make it clear that you will be showing the unit.

Michael Brattelli · Answer

@Adah N. I tell all my clients your first showing is online so my vote would be to wait. Professional pictures are a must. That being said I would try to get it show ready and on the market asap. Good luck

Adah N. · Answer

@Mordechai Chaimovitz

Thanks. It sounds like showing before it is ready is not a good idea. But alerting potential renters a couple weeks ahead, that it is coming soon may be good.

List Now or Wait Till Ready to Show?

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