The fun of showing a property .

[Matthew Paul]

Its always interesting  showing a rental .  I always show up in my work truck  dressed in work clothes .  Its a 2 bed 1 bath on 1/2 acre good neighborhood and schools  .  Had 2 couples show up and 1 single guy  , and a few messages .   First couple asks if I am a private landlord , I tell them I am the maintenance guy . " She says we need to talk to the owner  whats his number "    I tell her "  I speak for the owner , thats my job  ". I start hearing hard luck stories and tell her to stop , here are the requirements and they dont change . They  get pissy and leave . 

The second couple loves the place , and asks if I will build a fence . I tell them there is no need for a fence to keep people out .   " Oh no we have 2 nice dogs "   I tell them , "i guess you didnt read the add where "NO PETS " was on the first line "  .     She says " Oh they are not pets we consider them part of the family "       Sorry   ,  No pets 

The single guy shows up , looks and starts to try to wheel and deal how he could fix up the place , and cut the grass and do landscaping .   I look at him ,  and say you have to cut the grass , and I am the maintenance man , repairs and any improvements are MY job . 

5 Minutes before I am ready to leave I get a text from someone saying they will be there in 20 minutes .  I text back and say the times were between 9 am and 11 am .  Dont bother coming .      Their response was rather vulgar . 

Its always fun . 

[Karl B.]

Matthew, we're cut from the same cloth. 

Like you, when I'm showing a property, I'm typically dressed between the range of working guy and looks like a vagrant who fell into a pile of paint.

I typically hold showings when I plan on doing work at a property, that way if someone is a no-show - which is roughly 40% of the time - I'm not out any time as I'm there being productive.

One time a couple showed up late (from what I remember it was roughly 20 minutes - I typically give them 7-10 minutes) and I was busy doing yardwork. Since I was annoyed they were so late when the couple approached me and stated they were there for a showing I told them the guy who shows the apartments left already and that he was angry about no-shows. 

I keep a list of the no-shows (my idiot list) as I've had the same people inquire about viewing a different apartment (often a year or two after their no-show) and I tell them about the time and date they failed to show up (at that point they typically don't respond).