Property showings are a must in the rental business. For starters, a showing is your first chance as a landlord to meet prospective residents. You get to walk prospective residents through the unit, give them all the information they might need, and answer any of their questions. You can also use the interaction to get a feel for what kind of a renter someone might be. Part of the reason showings are critical is that most residents won’t sign a lease without physically seeing the property first. For this reason, it’s essential to make the showing a great experience. A great showing will increase the likelihood that renters will apply for the unit (and you’ll find a high-quality resident in the process). With that being said, what are some specific things you can do to ensure a great experience? Here’s an eight-step process you can follow to ensure an excellent property showing:
1. Know What Kind of a Showing You’re Giving
There are two kinds of property showings: individual showings and open houses. Individual showings are one-on-one tours that you give prospective residents who reach out to you about a property. Because prospective residents are the ones reaching out to schedule the tour, they’re usually (at least somewhat) interested in signing a lease. Open houses, on the other hand, are open to anyone who wants to walk through the property. While an open house will bring a larger pool of prospective residents into the unit, it’s more prone to bringing in people with no real intention of signing a lease.
2. Schedule the Showing
When it comes to individual showings, the scheduling process is fairly straightforward. After a prospective resident reaches out, you need to coordinate your availability with them to find a time that works for both of you. You must ensure that you give yourself enough time to show the entire unit and answer any questions the prospective resident might have.Open houses are more effective the more prospective residents you can attract. As such, you should schedule an open house at a time that would work best for most people. While nobody wants to work on weekends, scheduling an open house on a weekend afternoon will maximize your chances of getting a good turnout. In our experience, an open house should last around two hours.
What if a resident occupies the unit?
This can get tricky when a resident occupies a unit you’re trying to show. Whether it’s an individual showing or an open house, most states have laws on how much notice you must give the resident ahead of time. You can’t just spring a showing on a resident last second, so make sure you review your state’s laws to see how much time in advance you need to alert your resident. Giving residents plenty of time to prepare also allows them to tidy up the space and make plans to be out of the unit.
3. Make a Good First Impression
Make sure that you arrive at the showing early to greet prospective residents when they arrive. Showing up late will give off a bad impression. You don’t want to make a bad impression before a prospective resident even has a chance to see the unit. You should also ensure that you’re dressed professionally to show prospective residents that you value their interest in your property.It’s important to be personable. Greeting prospective residents with a smile and calling them by their first name will make them feel welcome. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to individualize your showings to show the prospective residents that you care. An easy way to do so is to ask them friendly questions about themselves to get to know them better.
4. Provide a Handout
You should make a handout with detailed information about your unit and give it to prospective residents at the beginning of the showing. While you should try to hit all this information on your showing, a handout will allow prospective residents to reference information they may have forgotten or that you may have skipped.
5. Be a Resource
When showing prospective residents a property, they expect you to be an expert. Ensure you’re familiar with all the information about the property and neighborhood that a prospective resident might ask you during a showing. Popular questions include:
- What is the property’s square footage?
- When was the property built?
- Did previous renters have pets?
- How old are the appliances?
- What are the nearby schools?
- What are the local restaurants?
- What are the neighborhood’s crime rates?
- What is the area’s nightlife like?
Be prepared with answers ahead of time if you’re asked any of these questions during a showing.
6. Don’t Be Overbearing
Although a showing consists of you leading prospective residents through a unit, you want to ensure you give them some time and space. Give them space to view the unit at their own pace, but make sure to stay close enough to answer whatever questions they might have. However, you don’t want to let them stray too far because that can pose a risk of theft. Be present and attentive without coming across as overbearing.
7. Begin Pre-Screening
While you can use property management software to conduct thorough resident screening after a prospective resident has applied to your property (or hire a professional property manager instead), it’s essential to pre-screen prospective residents when you meet them in person.
- Did they show up on time?
- Did they seem interested in the showing?
- What was their overall demeanor like?
You should consider these questions when assessing a prospective resident’s character.You can also ask prospective residents relevant questions at the showing, such as:
- Do you have pets?
- Do you smoke?
- What do you do for a living?
- How many people will be living in the unit?
You don’t want to ask these questions in a way that seems like an interrogation. Bring them up casually and organically.
8. Discuss Next Steps
Once the showing is over, give prospective residents all the forms and information they’ll need to submit an application. This will likely include a rental application sheet and forms for background checks and credit report authorization. Providing prospective residents with these resources will increase the likelihood that they’ll apply for your property. And it will not only make the application process more convenient for them, but it’ll also expedite the tenant screening and approval process for you. It’s a good idea to provide prospective residents with a brochure containing information and pictures of the unit. This will give them something to remember the property by. You shouldn’t spend too much money on these brochures, but making them look nice will leave your prospective residents with a good impression of the property.
High-Quality Showings = High-Quality Residents
Property showings are critical experiences for prospective residents when considering when to apply for your unit. As a result, you want to ensure that your showings are as good as they can possibly be. Using showings as an opportunity to get a feel for prospective residents and to show them that you care about their interest in your property will allow you to get the most out of your rental showings and place high-quality residents in your property.