Can’t show property when tenant isn’t home but he’s always gone.

[Blake Varner]

Hello. Newbie landlord here. Tenant is moving out in under a month. I want to show the property to prospects but my tenant doesn’t want strangers there when he’s not there. The problem is he’s almost never there. If I try to schedule a walk-thru too many days in advance, I’ll lose the prospect. Any Suggestions, please?

thank you

[Nathan Gesner]

Originally posted by @Blake Varner:

Hello. Newbie landlord here. Tenant is moving out in under a month. I want to show the property to prospects but my tenant doesn’t want strangers there when he’s not there. The problem is he’s almost never there. If I try to schedule a walk-thru too many days in advance, I’ll lose the prospect. Any Suggestions, please?

The law requires you to give notice of entrance; it does not require you to get permission. If your lease states you have the right to market the home during the last 30 days, you can remind your tenant of this and tell them you are showing the home even if he's not there.

It's a personal choice. Sometimes I just market a rental with pictures and tell people tours are unavailable. I give them the option of renting it without seeing it in person and then they have 24 hours after it's vacant to inspect and confirm/deny. That cuts my risk. If the current renter is difficult or the place doesn't show well, I'll wait until it's vacant before marketing. But in most cases, current renters participate in showings and keep the place showable, so I'm able to find a new renter before the old one leaves.