All Forum Posts by: Ryan Scritchlow

wix is a easy to use platform for building your own site.

I wanted to up date everyone on my progress.  I have it set up so that if you email a listing on craigslist my web site will basically pre screen you as well as schedule a showing.   I confirm the showing via an email (soon to add appointment reminders for prospective tenants), show the property and give the prospective tenant a business card directing them to the secure section of my website where they can fill out an on line application as well as pay the application fee.  

 I actually just rented one of my rentals with no emails or calls before a single meeting at the house, one email to the tenant to let them know they were approved and another email to confirm a time to sign the lease. we sign the lease tomorrow.  This has taken a massive amount of my time to build but the long term time savings will be very well worth it.  thank you for all of the help from everyone  it made a huge difference.  Thanks!!!

Scott,

That is great advice and I have heard that advice in most every real estate book I read, and I read a lot!!!!! You all ways need to be learning something new....  I would love to be hands off on both my property and business endeavors but I figure I need to learn how to do all of it  properly while Im younger, when the stakes are lower which gives me the continued option down the road and makes me a better investor long term,

All BS aside The other more pressing reason why is that  I have not found the opportunity to move away from self managing my rentals is I have been trying to break into commercial / mini storage space for the last 4 years.

I built my first  commercial building as part of my plan which has sat empty for the last 2 years due to a tenant backing out that I built the building for.  So Currently I need every dollar of cash flow I can get to still maintain my goals.  My mini storage project once completed over the next 5 years should allow me to move out of the actual management If I so desire but right now I need all of the cash flow that I can get to maintain my pay off goals of 5 more years on the building and property that I built 2 years ago.  I could turn it over to a management company and just prolong some of my pay off goals attached to that property  but I have projects lined up for the increased capital that I would then free up down the road hopefully providing me with better returns on a larger amount of money. 

Some day it would be nice and free up a lot of time but Im still in the beginning of this whole process.  Thanks for the feed back.  Would you mind if I picked your brain on my mini storage project?

I had not even made it to the ga part yet as im still ironing the site and automation out.  I figure if I don't have it just right when I move everything over there will be. Lag in filling my units before I will be able to identify what my issues are resulting in slower fill rates which the site is supposed to be reducing.    But yes very good thoughts.   Before I move the site to its final address I will let you all know so you can take a. Look.  I've gotten a ton of feed back from friends via Facebook and made some other changes here this evening to make it user friendly as much as I can.   Any there feedback or suggestions?  You guys are so very helpful thanks again! !!

sorry I don't know how to edit posts and hit enter by mistake,  the reason I asked is I know how to do option B with out a programmer where as to do option A it will probably take them a couple of hours.  IE is it worth the additional expense once they are there working on my site in terms of ease of use for potential tenats?

chris,

I added your second suggestion of phrasing to the "schedule a screening" page  I think that was a good idea, Ill get some feed back on the format in terms of placement look and feel but I like that addition to that page

I sent a couple of emails to some guys that do a lot of programing to see if any are looking for some side work.  They should be able to work out the couple of kinks Ive been having in automation as well as address the online application need.

For every one

while I've got a programmer doing some code work should I

A: combine all of my steps into a single email that directs potential tenants to the pre screening page, they fill it out, if they answer correctly they are directed to the scheduler

OR

b: They get the first email that directs them to the pre screening page after they fill it out they get a second email directing them to my scheduler? 

for every one that thinks that there are too many hoops to jump through.  what If I combined the prescreening form to the scheduler? meaning a prospective tenant gets one email directing them to my web site, they fill out the prescreening form as long as they answer the prescreening questions correctly they are immediately directed to the scheduler where they can set up an appointment.  If they do not answer the questions correctly they will be directed to my requirements page.

What are everyones thoughts as to that?

that is a good idea that I have tried it a couple of times, the open house concept is time efficient  but never have had any luck with it. 

I could see that to answer your questions

1. no they only pay the $35 application fee IF they actually want to and do apply for the property.  I will show them any or all of my current rentals before they pay any thing. 

do you have any suggestions as to how I could help to make that more clear and not cause any confusion?

2. right now you can down load a PDF, print it and then we would have to meet for me to collect the application or email it to me but we would still have to meet and  collect the fee.  Im looking into options to have the application filled out on the site but there may be some security issues I will need to deal with.  Worse case you would down load it and email it to me and I would send a link to collect payment. but I would prefer to automate it more. 

I would take some use the email on the bottom of the site.  Thanks for the feedback!!!

when you say put all of the "terms and conditions" do you mean on the pre screening form in stead of having them check individual boxes regarding evictions ect?  I will keep everyone up dated so far in the last 72 hours with 4 test ads I have had 14 people total come in so far and sent an email.  6 people filled out the pre screen and one appointment was scheduled.  Im still having to manually send some of my responses due to some incompatibly issues but Im hoping to have that ironed out evenings this week.  Googles canned responses haven't made it manageable though.