All Forum Posts by: Madelyn Felix

We've had keys broken into locks to prevent other showings before also.  And keys go missing.  

I think we'll go with the doorbell cameras that the tenants can use for their added benefit and appeal also (in between any vacancy).  Everyone loves them.  

We're just working out the WIFI issue.  Trying anyway.  

This was suggested by Hussain in this thread, and I'm intrigued:

3) ReoLink Go Plus Cellular Camera with a $5 per month T mobile data only sim card. I point the camera at the door so I can see if the door is closed and who is coming in.

Hi Arvand,

We'll have to add a disclosure before they set up the showing.  Good point.  

Thank you so much!

What systems are you using at scale, and which lockboxes?  Most are $150+  

Do you ask the property owner to supply them or pay for them as part of onboarding?

Smart!

Very thorough.  Thank you so much!

Thank you, Nathan!  We just had a brand new installed furnace grow legs at one of our properties overnight.  There was no evidence of breaking and entering.  

For assets professionally managed, I just feel like there is a blind spot when it comes to self guided tours.  Seems like we could be negligent if we allow self-guided tours and someone leaves a window or the back door unlocked and comes back to occupy or destroy the property later.  

I know it's unlikely, but in that event, I think a client could sue a property manager for negligence. But if properties were reasonably monitored after-hours, this might reasonably solve for being completed automated with property tours.  

Meeting strangers at a vacant property is always a gamble also.  

I'd like to set up something that gives us an alert if someone is at a vacant property after-hours and to determine if a home is occupied without paying someone an hour round trip to find out (for the rare default situations).  

 I'll check out Showmojo and Tenant Turner.  Thank you!

Melanie,

Is your team using Point Central?  How do you afford it?  They seemed to be way out of our price range, but maybe I'll take another look.  Thank you!

Thank you, Sarah!

Tenant Turner doesn't integrate with video monitoring and their questionnaire to prescreen showings disqualifies for service animals for any pet restrictions, I think I remember.  

I looked at them, but the lockbox cost of $200 per door just for showings was what stopped me.  Do you use their smart locks?  

Do you use anything for remote access for maintenance?  Chasing keys is a pain and we're trying to find an all in one solution-if it exists.  It doesn't seem like it does.  

Hi Bill Le,

There are a couple scheduling companies that do automate scheduling, complete ID verifications for you and provide access codes for self-guided tours, but without cameras, who's to say someone can't unlock a window and come back later?  

And the automated tours only work with a HUGE lumpsum upfront for multiple doors for all of the equipment.   

I feel like we eliminate folks with batch tours that can't make the timing work that day.  I've found that renters feel uncomfortable with a bunch of competition-and it's hard to get them they attention they deserve in that situation.  

Our team had more no shows than ever with group showings.  

Being a petite woman, I was never fond of meeting strangers in vacant houses either when I first started with my personal rental portfolio.  

If all of the equipment for fully automated remote supervised tours was acquired on a credit line, I think you still have a problem with all of the different logins one one device.

I'll let you know what I come up with.  

You're absolutely right.  We all have our own methods, and that is what makes us all unique.  

I'm focused on scaling. 

How are you monitoring vacant properties?  

Are you chasing keys, or have you gone with smart locks?  If you're using keys, is someone from your team meeting maintenance for every work order?  

What automations is your team using to grow and increase capacity without hiring more seasonal staff full time for showings?

Thank you, JD. 

In-person showings just aren't efficient. And you can't accommodate everyone's schedule.  It takes longer to lease in-person-and it's expensive.  

I think the evictions are a tenant screening issue more than an issue with self-guided tours vs in-person.  

The way we screen tenants tells us all we need to know 99% of the time.  Our default rate is very low-even with self-guided tours.