?WOW WOW WOW? won't LAST LONG??? THIS PLACE FOR RENT! Ha!

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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?WOW WOW WOW? won't LAST LONG??? THIS PLACE FOR RENT! Ha!

Sam Leon
Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes

A couple of questions for those looking for tenants.

(1) Do you get a lot of calls from people asking questions that's already provided in the ads? I have a sign out (with a box containing detailed info on flyers) and online ads with all information. Why am I still getting many calls from people who asked how much and where? Last week a lady called and asked because she's sitting 4 feet away in her car but didn't feel like getting out of her car to retrieve the flyer.

(2) Do you ever consider a shorter term lease? I insisted on a 1 year lease but recently had someone very interested and she wanted a six month lease because she's looking to buy but needed a place due to her current resident closing in two weeks. I was thinking about it because a six month lease will bridge me over to the beginning of summer with more potential demand BUT since she's looking to buy it is more likely for her to break the 6 month lease sooner.

(3) Do you draft your ads to look for "maximum" calls or "only qualified" calls? I believe in not wasting people's (and mine) so I give very specific details. I even show detailed floor plans in the pictures with true dimensions of each room and where the doors, windows, closets are so they can figure out if the furniture. Some of my friends who are landlords give minimum details and they do get more calls and they think that gives them a better chance to rent their place.

(4) Wording your ads on Craigslist. Do you throw in junk words to stand out more? I just put a simple and direct line "3/2 Single Family Residence with Large Yard in Historic Sailboat Bend" but 80% of other ads have:

"OMG WONT LAST..."

"AMAZING GORGIOUS..."

"MUST SEE FAN-TAS-TIC..."

"NO COST MOVE IN FREE..." but inside it says security deposit and 1 month rent plus application to move in.

"BEST AND CHEAPEST IN AREA..."

"WOW WOW WOW..."

symbols like ??==> ==>==>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do they really work? Seriously?

(4) Do you publish your real phone number or use a temp Google Voice number? I am tempted to try a Google Voice number because I know the purpose of the call and can customize my voice mail greeting. I do wish Google would allow more than one number to be forwarded to my phone so I can keep business #1, day job, personal, rental all separate.

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Account Closed
Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
12y

Most tenants get up set when they call about a rental, and it go to some of the wall voice mail. Real landlords will not screen their calls but answer all calls.


Joe Gore
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  • Sam Leon
    OP
    Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes
    12y

    (5) I forgot one more, do you write the NEXT STEP for the tenant on your ads? Even if you put your email, phone, QR code to web site etc...do you say "CALL US NOW", "CALL IMMEDIATELY FOR MORE INFORMATION!" Some told me people don't call unless you yell out CALL ME in your ads...or they may be scanning ads and writing down a list of potential places to call and the "CALL ME NOW" stops them in the track and make them dial the digits? TRUE or FALSE?

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  • Kyle Hipp
    Investor · Appleton, WI · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 464 votes
    12y

    I recently rented a house a town over from my normal area and itwas a little above the price range for those on my waiting list. I had just finished updatingthe property so I described the features. I tend to stress the utility savings with the energy efficiency. I said it looks great but nothing bold or anything. At the end I said only to respond if you meet minimum qualifications of minimum income of 3 times rent and no judgements or evictions on your record. I didn't leave a number but directed them to respond to the craigslist e-mail and told them my name was kyle.

    I listed on a monday in the middle of september at 4:30pm. I had about a dozen replies during the next 20 hours all communicstion through email. I had 6 showings the next day on tuesday from 4:30 - 6:30. 3 were very interested and the last one actually turned out the most motivated (in a good way, going through a divorce, good paying teacher job) and signed the lease wednesday, paying full security deposit, rest of september and all of october rent and was moved in by friday.

    I did have one gal e-mail that did have two evictions in the past among other issues. One othdr guys had judgements for money and set the appt up for friday so I was able to let him know the unit was full before the scheduled showing.

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  • Account Closed
    Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    12y

    Most tenants get up set when they call about a rental, and it go to some of the wall voice mail. Real landlords will not screen their calls but answer all calls.


    Joe Gore
    1Reply
  • Chris K.Pro Member
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 655 votes
    12y

    (1) I'd say that about 7/10 of people who respond ask questions that was already answered in the ad. It's really really annoying. I'll get people who call and ask a ton of questions just to say "Oh I needed a 3 bedroom" when 2 bedroom is plastered all over the ad. Another thing that annoys me is when people ask me where it is or what it's by when I have the block and street in the ad.

    (2) I've decided that I'm doing month to month leases from now on unless I get someone who is a superstar applicant or they've been there a year and I definitely want to keep them.

    (3) I try to get as few unneeded calls as possible so I put as many pics and information in the ad as possible to answer all questions. When someone calls with a question not answered by the ad I usually edit the ad to include that information. Some people may be different but I personally hate and skip ads that are like "Email me for more pics" or "Call for details".

    (4) I keep the wording simple but I'll throw in the occasional "FREE MONTHS RENT"

    (4a) I've been using my real number just cause I use my google voice for a different side business. Like you said , I wish we could have more than one.

    (5) My ads always specify "Call X-X-X if you are interested". Which is a mini screening to see if they can follow directions. I tend to ignore emails and texts.

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  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    12y

    .

    (1) Do you get a lot of calls from people asking questions that's already provided in the ads? Always - they forget what house they are calling on. Not a big deal unless they obviously should not have called at all. Like I was looking for 5 bedrooms... and we have 3.

    (2) Do you ever consider a shorter term lease? Yes, if I know it is the wrong time of year for a particular rental. After school starts for a student rental or something like that.

    (3) Do you draft your ads to look for "maximum" calls or "only qualified" calls?

    Mostly qualified. Not all the qualifications are in the ad. I just list that we will income verify and do screening to weed out people who think you won't check.

    (4) Wording your ads on Craigslist. Do you throw in junk words to stand out more? No--those ads especially all caps scream rental agency/relator to me. I do try to include something special in the title usually the best feature to make it stick in the potential renters mind.

    (4) Do you publish your real phone number or use a temp Google Voice number? Now it goes to Google voice and I set google voice to go to the landline I am at. If I don't answer the landline google voice picks up and the text goes to my email and I call them back. I do have the advantage that the area code is a give away on what they are calling about so I can decide to pickup or not.

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  • Jennifer A.
    Sun Prairie, WI · Member since 2013 · 150 posts · 69 votes
    12y

    (1) Like Colleen, I get calls for people who can't remember what unit they are calling about.

    (2) Right now I'm purchasing another unit and will be trying to rent it in winter in Wisconsin. I'm specifically going to do a shorter lease so that renewal comes up in spring/summer.

    (3) I want more qualified buyers. That said, I specifically state in my ads that bankruptcy and foreclosure do not mean that I won't rent to someone. Most of my tenants have gone through one or the other and are great tenants. Bad things happen to good people.

    (4) I do not include obnoxious words because they scream realtor, multiplex or desperate to me. I'm not sure why. Probably because most of the larger and poorer complexes in my area seem to use them. I also include language that says I am a landlord that manages my own units to show prospective tenants that they are getting something different.

    (5) I say to email for more information and they must include the names of all prospective occupants. I do this so that I can do a preliminary screening and background check. It helps me have a bit more information in my pocket before I agree to meet anyone.

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  • Aly W.
    Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    I have a 2/2 for rent now in FL, and I realize from experience that this is a difficult time to find a tenant. That said, I do my best to make my ad stand out and constantly tweak the headline to keep it fresh.

    After 3 weeks of the usual headline (Renovated 2/2 in "Great Town", FL, All New Appliances) or similar, I decided to get creative and a little offbeat. I've only gotten a few calls - to my actual cell phone - and one or two emails. Two people actually came to see the unit, one said she wanted it, and never sent the application.

    I've also had many other calls about units where the tenant asked questions that were clearly answered in the ad - how much is the rent, how many bedrooms, where is it located, what's the deposit. When I asked them if they read the ad, some said they had been given my number by a friend who saw it, or had written down several numbers of different ads and weren't online when they were calling. That was interesting to know.

    My ad is very detailed and it states that I'm a private owner, not a realtor or corporation. It also describes the approval process, and what will not pass approval - evictions and criminal activity. Tenants that have credit or background problems usually say so up front. I also write down everything they tell me during the first phone call, as sometimes it's very different than what they put on an application.

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  • Account Closed
    Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    12y
    Most landlords lose out on good tenants when they rely on credit scores.

    Joe Gore

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  • Matthew Perry
    Investor · Prescott/Tempe, AZ · Member since 2013 · 73 posts · 57 votes
    12y

    I had several people that, when responding to a Craigslist ad, repeatedly asked questions for information that was in the ad, and that I emailed to them afterword. The first person, then asked for a lot of personal information, and mentioned their boss would be mailing a check, for the place, with out either seeing it, and so I assumed they were participating in a scam. Be careful, there are a lot of people out there with bad integrity, and when prospective tenants ask for your you birth date, it could be a scam, and I would recommend not giving them any information.

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  • Account Closed
    Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    12y
    Matthew,

    I agree never to provide your DOB. Most tenants want to feel comfortable that you are the owner to the property and if the landlord is honest, the landlord should answer the tenants question same as the landlord needed the tenant's info to see if it is a fit. Red flags for a tenant when a landlord does not provide proof, they are the owner of the property when ask, and it does not have the owners name on the application. I am sure everyone will agree with all the fraud going on.


    Joe gore
    1Reply
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