Screening prospective tenants before showing them the apartment

[Carolyn Fuller]

Hi,

I have a fully furnished apartment that I rent by the academic term and over the summer. I have many photos online and an 8 1/2 minute detailed walkthrough video for this apartment. The market for such rentals in my quintessential college town is so tight that I am able to rent it for the academic term, often, without the prospective tenant first visiting it in person. But it is quite another story for the summer rentals. There are so many fully furnished apartments on the sublet market over the summer that I'm often showing the apartment to 7 or 8 people over a 2 month period before someone signs a lease. That wouldn't be so bad if the apartment was vacant when I'm showing it but it isn't. I couldn't afford to have it vacant 2 months each year! 

Any ideas on how to screen prospective tenants such that I'm only showing it to people who are seriously considering renting it? 

[Patrice Penda]

@Carolyn Fuller

whenever someone you have shown your apartment to declines to rent, ask for feedback. 

With the data you gather, very quickly you’ll understand why people are not renting it. 

With that information, be bery transparent to prospective tenants on what your apartment offers, what it doesn’t  and what they might not like. 

That way you don’t have to waste your time showing it to people who won’t take. 

It still does guarantee that those you’ll show it to will rake it straight away but at least you’ll “screen” them.