How to do showings the right way

[Daniel Bell]

I believe it's crucial not to require an application before viewing a unit. My timeline for turning over vacancies is strictly four weeks, which is the maximum acceptable period between a tenant moving out and the arrival of a suitable new tenant. Remember, four weeks is already 7.6% of a year without any cash flow—let that sink in!

This gives me a considerable edge in my market because many landlords and property managers insist on an application prior to a unit showing. Since I don't have that requirement, I attract many potential tenants eager to physically see a property before investing 25 minutes online and spending $25-$50 only to be disappointed by a no-show agent, which can feel like being scammed.

I keep the showing process short and straightforward, lowering the barrier for more applicants in my pipeline that I can potentially approve!

[Andrew B.]

Charging tenants an application fee before they see the unit is absurd, but are people actually doing this? I've never heard of somebody paying a fee before you even see the place, and I would tell anyone that it is more likely to be a scam. 

What happened to pre-screening? If you're not pre-screening you're wasting your time.