All Forum Posts by: Ryan Scritchlow

Thanks, wix makes building sites very simple so most of the credit goes to them as they have great integration of out side products which makes it very easy. I still need to get the forms converted over to Google forms to correct some automation issues I'm having but all in all I'm pretty pleased so far with the results. Any thoughts on ways to improve in it let me know.  Now that we re past the do I do it or not stage  I'd like to make it as easy to use as possible. 

I have never looked into that before  I will ask a couple of the realtors that I work with and see what it would cost.

here you guys are as it sits currently before I move it over to its actual domain

http://rscritch.wix.com/rental-site

The self storage is mine.  The first building is only 30 units and Im installing a kiosk to handle sign ups on site in addition to the web site and ill have to spend more of my time there so Im looking at moving my office to that site as well as we build more buildings to keep a better eye on that project which is why Id like to free up some more time on my rentals through automation.  Long term your completely correct the staff at the mini storage will be able to run my rentals for me but until I get the mini storage off the ground to the point of paying the new staff person I get to add to my all ready crazy work load.

I would be willing to show my site so long as everyone agrees not to comment on gramidical and spelling errors

I would agree that I need to fix my process.  My average tenant stays 18 months right now my problem is due to my schedule it usually takes me about 2 to 2.5 months to fill a vacancy as its hard to find the time and what ends up happening is I don't have time to do a proper pre screening, get stood up half the time, then I get frustrated and go into Ill get it rented when I have time mode which doesn't do me any good and pro longs the process.  I shouldn't sit vacant that long in our market and at my price points.   this is why I wanted to automate as much as possible. The site is all ready built and is functional if you email in off of craigslist.  Im building new pre screening forms in the evenings in stead of the standard drop in ones in order to by able to control my data more and fully automate as I'm having issues when the incoming address dose not match the reply too address. like emails from Tulia and craigslist.  I have not even had time to spell check my site as I'm a horrible speller but   In the past 72 hours since I have done some test ads (4 ads 2 on craigslist 2 else where to test emails and forms)  I have had 10 emails come in, 4 people fill out the prescreen form and one person set up a showing. 

I do all of  my emailing after work or before work ie early morning 4 to 630am or after 9 pm at night.  This tends to prolong the process and I have lost out on tenants due to that.   so that's why I was leaning towards automation via a web site.  I completely understand what you can screen out via a phone interview but They just do not work for me during the work day while trying to manage multiple crews on multiple sites and deal with customers.   I run a landscaping and construction company and am building my rentals as my retirement and they provide me with the cash flow for each of my next property purchases until I get it off of the ground and it self supports.  So management is not an option for me as I need ever penny some times.  I am breaking ground on a mini storage property in May so that was another reason why I wanted an automated process which I would be able to expand to my mini storage units after I get the bugs worked out.  I know this may not be idea for every one and do understand that.  Im just trying to tap into every ones experience to see how I can tweek my process to lose as little in the way of qualified tenants while blocking out the bad ones automatically.

I would be game for meeting if any one else would ever be I enjoy hearing about how other people run their businesses

I had never really looked into them.  I will take a look at some of them for some ideas thanks for the suggestion.   I know I appreciate people / companies that I can use technology with, as I can use it early morning before I start work for the day.  I notice that the consensus is that its not a good idea and I would lose tenants.  what if every thing was completed off one email?  I guess I could get rid of the 3 email process. 

I don't have time to talk on the phone to 10 people calling about my houses each day so Most of my tenants come from craigslist as I hate yard signs for that reason. Here is my typical process:  they email me about a property, I answer their questions and then ask my own (first email), they email back half of what I asked for so I ask for my other information (second email) they email back the rest of the info.  I email them to set up a showing (3rd email)  they email me back when they can meet then I email them to confirm that that time dose work, 4th email, and then I get 50% no shows

What are the ways that you guys use to stream line your rental process if that's is too complicated for the acerage renter

oh one other thing the emails are automatic as Im not invloved so while the prospective tenant is at their computer looking at possible rentals they get the emails immediately the entire process takes less than 5 min to have a showing scheduled.  where as the old way I did it we would email back and forth over a couple of hours and or days to get the screening completed and a showing scheduled.