Rental showings during coronavirus/Covid-19

[Amit M.]

Landlords- How have your showings for rental units been effected by coronavirus? Are you seeing a drop in demand the last 2-3 days from say 1-2 weeks ago? Are tenants hesitant to make a move now? Filling vacancies becoming more complicated?

I only have one vacancy now in San Francisco (in a less popular rental neighborhood), which went from slow the last couple of weeks, to now (2-3 days) showing no sign of life. OTOH I filled a rental in a popular neighborhood 2 weeks ago, and had a ton of viewings.  But that’s only two datapoints. Let’s get a dialog going on landlord’s recent leasing experiences...cause I think a few changes are/will soon be at hand...

[Lawrence Leung]

@Jennifer S.,  Narrated video walkthroughs as @Account Closed suggested are also a good alternative AND/OR addition to a virtual 3D tours and photography (not only for marketing, but also for move in and move out assessments).  My only recommendation is similar to photography, you don't have a second chance to make a first impression. When a prospective tenant/applicant searches through available listings they will quickly move onto the next one when they see what appears to be a dark, cluttered or dirty property. Professionalism is KEY.  Here are some tips that may seem obvious, but are sometimes overlooked:

• Ensure the entire property is empty, clear and free of any items and most importantly, CLEAN!
  Go to the property mid day (when the sun is at its apex) to get as much indirect soft light as possible avoiding shadows and harsh light
  Turn on all lights (including stove top and closet lights) and open up all blinds/window treatments (replace burnt out bulbs, if necessary)
  Close the toilet lids and open up the shower doors/curtain to show the shower devices
  Coil up any cablings (television, internet, phone, etc.) into a neat compact circle
  Open up all the doors to show the inside of nooks and crannies and share the size of the closets
  Invest in a gimble so you eliminate the rocky video. You can use a smart phone with a gimble and get incredible results. Walk through the property slowly pan through each room from one side to another and then walk along the walls aiming towards the middle as you walk to the next room.
  As you narrate your video, highlight the amenities of the unit that are not obvious from still photos (southern facing windows, street facing vs rear bedrooms, etc.) and sprinkle in information about the unit, building and neighborhood)
  Try to be concise as you begin to lose engagement after a couple minutes.