Brad,
I just rented my 1st unit- after I renovated it in under 30 days. I also raised the rent $300 days. It was previously a $1500 a month and I got it up to $1850. I was freaking out myself because construction ran late and we didn't list it until the week before Christmas. So I barely got prospects and the ones I did get- well I thought I was going to have to rob a bank! While I am no expert, I fell your pain and thought I could provide my opinion.
NO do not lower your credit score based off of nobody. I am also a professional sales person. Google "at-bats" or sabre metrics. You are not even letting anyone a chance to get up to the plate! I have been a renter in NYC and Boston for the last 10+ years. People look search from their phones not desktops. They want to stay on the apartment app not get forwarded to questionnaires. They get to yours and are like "WTF". Do me a favor- check out your listing on a mobile device. Or ask a friend. It should be painless to set up a showing appointment from a device to see your stunning appointment!!!
New goal- get as many people in your apartment as possible. The freaks, the crazies, everyone. This is a business. The more people you show this to you the more likely you will get a "renter". You are automatically disqualifying people. Delete every posting and then re-post!
Then during that showing- if they like it you discuss qualifications. They will ask. People who rent come ready to rent. TAKE EVERYTHING OFF OF YOUR LISTING.
Don't lower your standards to rent. But absolutely make it easy for anyone to come see your apartment. It's also about the tenant. I had a graduate student with a 720 credit score and 100k cash apply ( to me this is not an ideal tenant)-- because that money can be gone tomorrow). How will they keep paying me? Its the whole picture? Proof of income + credit report+ employment history!
