Vacant Unit Showing Strategies

[Anthony R.]

So this question is pretty straight forward. I'm curious what different strategies everyone uses for showing vacant units. 

I'm trying to find a strategy that satisfies the below requirements

• Motivates potential tenants to apply and lease quickly (a weak pressure sale tactic?) 
• Finds the best tenant possible while also abiding by fair housing laws 
• Is fair to all tenants and leaves everyone feeling like they were fairly considered 

Currently this is my strategy:

1. List unit on a Wednesday
2. Schedule everyone that calls to view the apartment for the coming Saturday or Sunday
3. All scheduled viewings in 30 min blocks
4. Notify the tenant when they schedule that it's on a first come first served basis so the earlier they get there the better
5. If someone shows up to view the apartment and want to lease it, they fill out the paid application/background check there and provide other required material. 
6. If the tenant qualifies, they get an electronic lease immediately, pay the security deposit and I cancel the rest of the appointments

Process I'm considering trying

1. List apartment on Wednesday 
2. Have all potential tenants show up at the same time for an open house style of viewing
3. Have all interested tenants fill out a free application with income info and other basic questions
4. Pick best from the list and send them a paid background check
5. If tenant passes then send them a lease, if not, inform them and move on to the next best

Any input on these two strategies? 

Any better strategies? 

[Peter M.]

My process is pretty close to your second variation. Open house style showing. I go through applications as they are received and they pay smartmove for the credit/background. They have 24 hrs to get it done or I move onto the next applicant. This way nobody pays an application fee for one I don't get to. I put it on zillow which populates trulia and other websites and I usually have 15-30 people show up on the weekend.