Showing no shows!!! experiences?

Question

This is just a venting post, but I also want to hear others' experiences.

I have my first unit turnover and I'm certainly learning from it. Firstly, I should have given myself more time. I didn't expect what I've been experiencing. I use a pre-screening questionnaire to vet out tenants that don't meet some basic requirements. Some people who initially show interest don't even bother sending that back, which is fine because I figure they aren't the type of tenant I desire anyways.

For those that do send it back and book a day/time for a showing, I would say only 1 in 5 actually turn up to the showing. Most don't even bother to send an email or text to cancel. Who else experiences this?? It's not much of a burden on my time because I live in the building, but its certainly frustrating.

Ryan Murdock · Answer

@Rusty Whitney A couple ideas that have worked for me:1. Schedule as many showings as you can for the same day and time. Chances are good at least someone will show up.2. Set the appointment but tell the prospect to call you 30 minutes prior to the showing or you will assume they have cancelled. Be very clear on this. Or, you can be proactive and call them 30 minutes prior. If no answer, don't go.

Michael Noto · Answer

@Rusty Whitney We fill 8-10 rental units per month for clients here in CT and this is the process we follow when someone responds to the ad we have for a particular apartment. 1. When someone responds we contact them back and list for them the minimum requirements the landlord wants us to pass along. 2. Next, we answer any questions they have about the apartment. 3. If they are still a viable candidate after those 2 steps we set up an appointment to view the apartment. 4. Once a time is agreed upon we tell the candidate that we will be texting them the day of to confirm the appointment. 5. 2-4 hours before the appointment we send a text confirming the appointment that says the following: "I just wanted to confirm our appointment for today at 4pm at 1 Main St in Pleasentville. Please confirm you will be coming and if you need to reschedule let me know."I've never had someone confirm an appointment responding to that text not show up. If people don't respond, I don't go to the appointment. Most of the time if they can't come they let you know or reschedule.

Tony Gunter · Answer

I have used "open house" set ups to good success. I am too busy to do it any other way. If they need a place and are interested, they will show up. If not, too bad. I get people to show up and if they are interested fill out an initial application. Tell them about all the checks that have to be done. Later I review the apps and decide who is the best candidate. Then I contact them and see if they are still interested. If they are that's when I direct them to the service I use for credit, criminal, eviction checks. They pay the service directly. I get the results. Move forward or not. I will never do the one on one showing again. Open houses also creates a competition atmosphere. Book it or loose it.

Bettina F. · Answer

I agree with open house showings. We rent apartments, and we tell prospects that we do open house showings. We usually schedule showings for 6 pm to 6:30pm. You can tell who shows up directly after work (a big plus for me!). We go so far as to bring a card table and folding chairs with applications and collect app fees right at the showing. We had a vacancy in June. With our last open house showing, we had 9 people who said they would come view the apartment -- 3 showed up. Two applicants applied, both well qualified. Signed a lease with one of them two days later. Done.We also show in teams -- so when one of us is walking a couple through the building, the other can be assisting with applications or answering questions. Always try to show in teams when you do an open house showing -- even if you pay a buddy to help you out (just make sure your buddy does not unintentionally violate Fair Housing laws with an offhand comment). Showing in teams is much safer and helps with the chaos when several prospects arrive at once.

Chris T. · Answer

@Rusty WhitneyJust like the others point out, schedule as many qualified candidates as you can. If they show up at the same time, it is even better for you. I have a sheet of requirements that I give everyone who shows up (basically what I told them on the phone and on the listing). For those who stayed to talk to me, I interview them.Ultimately it's supply/demand. If your unit shows well, and in a decent area. You should have no issues with interest, especially in the summer time.

Tanya F. · Answer

Similar to above, we include selection criteria in advance, and have each prospect confirm they will show up a day before the showings, that are all on the same day, 15-20 mins apart

Kim Meredith Hampton · Answer

@Rusty Whitney I prequalify everyone before they can get an appointment. Then we schedule an "open house" with people scheduled every 15 minutes, this way you avoid wasting time with individual showings.