9 Showings today - any advice?

[Sandy Spence]

Hello! I have nine showings today for our rental property. Being pretty new does anyone have any advice what to look for while interacting with applicants? They all will have to submit an applicant online through smart move with transunion but I know a few will pass that. Any advice is appreciated!!

[Marcia Maynard]

We pre-screen prospective tenants first, before showing them the property. That way we are only showing it to people who are likely to qualify. This saves their time and ours. Be sure you understand and abide by non-discrimination laws and fair housing laws. 

Keep your safety in mind. Show only during the day time and have another person with you if possible. Open the blinds/curtains so as the sunlight brightens the place. Turn on the lights in all of the rooms. Air out the place. Make sure it smells fresh and clean. Toilet seats down. Have a charged cell phone with you so you can call 911 if necessary.

Protect your floors. Have shoe covers available in a basket at the front door. Also, have on hand a few tools, such as measuring tape, disinfectant wipes, and a small tool box. Sometimes you will notice something that needs attention, so fix it promptly.

Greet people outside and take note of the condition of their car. If it is messy, it could be indicative of how they keep their home. Ask them if they have walked through the neighborhood, if not encourage them to do so after the viewing. 

Then invite them in with a cheery welcome. Give them an information sheet about the property, as they will be looking at many properties and this is your chance to make yours stand out. Let them explore the place on their own and notice where they go first. What attracts them? What kind of questions are the asking? What is their demeanor? How well do they communicate? Do they seem interested? Are children well behaved and supervised or running around wild? Answer any questions they may have. Point out special features of the home.

Have applications available for those who want to apply. Keep a camera handy to take a photo of their ID at the time when they turn in their application. Encourage applicants to take their time in filling out the application so it is accurate and easy to read. Be aware of common "red flags" that may indicate a problem tenant. Keep those in mind when screening tenants, interviewing tenants, showing properties, reviewing applications, and doing background checks.

Don't feel obligated to process the applications "first come, first serve". You can accept applications over the course of a few days, batch them, review the applications and rank them according to your rental criteria. You can process the most promising application first. If an prospective tenant or applicant doesn't meet your criteria to rent and you can see that from their application and/or conversations with them, let them know as soon as you can so they can keep looking for more suitable housing. Don't keep their application fee if you don't fully process their application or you have already accepted another applicant, refund it.

Good luck!  I hope the best applicants find you and like your place.  I hope you recognize the applicant who is most likely to turn out to be a great tenant and it works out for both of you!