Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles · Member since 2018 · 844 posts · 1k+ votes
How do you guys deal with the problem of potential renters who don't show up? I've had two appointments for this morning and neither of them showed up. So basically I'm just sitting here alone in an empty unit on a beautiful sunny Saturday instead of spending time with my wife.
I even confirmed with these two people last night that we were still on for this morning. Both of them confirmed that they would be here but I am 0 for 2 so far. I've tried emailing them but of course they've both gone dark. This always happens to me when trying to get a unit rented....I don't know why I'm surprised it's happening again. I would estimate that whenever I have a unit available, the showup rate is less than 50%.
I guess I'm just old-fashioned, but if I tell someone that I'm going to be at a certain place and even confirm the night before, I would make it a point to show up.
Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2013 · 919 posts · 911 votes
6y
@Tony Kim, it’s the time of year. I just bought a property, mid-December, have had lots of ‘bites’. I marketed it $100 a month under market.
I’ve had about 50+ Zillow ‘hits’. When I respond, I get ghosted. I’ve had 2 open houses as I will not ever do private showings. They are a waste of time.
I just modified my craigslist ad, offering a $250 gift card if someone rents it starting 1/1. I’m thinking I will be lucky to get it rented on 2/1.
Welcome to winter/holidays. Btw, I’m in Phoenix! Lol
Hayward, CA · Member since 2017 · 48 posts · 55 votes
6y
My method is similar to Brian's, if I get an inquiry from Zillow or CL I call and text immediately and book a private showing for later that day. About an hour before the appointment I confirm via text. I book appointments in 15 min increments. Rarely am I going to a property to do one showing, I usually have booked half a dozen appointments back to back. If I'm booked up for today I will book for tomorrow, but if someone wants to see it a few days from now I say "Yes, definitely. I will call you to set an exact time when we get a little closer" then I will call them the day of.
All of this being said, I live in a 5 minute radius of the properties I own and I do this full time. If I self managed on the side, or if I owned property 30 mins away I would probably resort to some of these other methods people have mentioned.
Real Estate Agent · Southington, CT · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
@Tony Kim That text you are sending the night before, send it an hour or two before the showing and I bet you most of your issues go away in regards to you showing up and no one coming.
Send them a text an hour or two before the appointment that says "I just wanted to confirm our appintment for today at [time] at [address]. Please confirm you will be coming and if you need to reschedule let me know." I have already told them to expect the text the day of. If someone is serious about viewing the apartment they will respond quickly.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
6y
of coarse they are flakey , they are tenants after all . I mean if they were responsible and had discipline in their life they would be homeowners not renters !
1.) Set up showings in clusters for the same day and same time. Treat the showing like an open house. It'll reduce the wasted time from the guaranteed no shows
2.) Require 1 hour pre appointment confirmation via text. If they confirm during this 1 hour window, they almost always show up.
I doubt this phenomenon is anything new. People no show for their flights (which they've paid money for). That's why airlines try to overbook every flight. That way they still have a full flight despite the inevitable no shows.
Rental Property Investor · Indiana...mostly · Member since 2019 · 468 posts · 245 votes
6y
I've always had prospective tenants fill out the free application before scheduling the visit. I've never had anyone who filled out the app be a no show. I like the "text me 30 minutes prior" idea I'm reading about here, also.
Flipper/Rehabber · Quincy, MA · Member since 2016 · 53 posts · 35 votes
6y
@Judy P. Hit it on the nose. Ghosting is a widespread cultural phenomenon. Employers deal with it every day as do restaurants, hotels ... and landlords.
Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
Not showing up can be turned into a positive. You just disqualified a mediocre tenant. For affordable housing, I find that only about 50% show up to confirmed showings.
Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
@Scott P. Interesting about the application. But some qualified tenants wouldn't see it because of the hassle of filling out an application for an apartment they have not seen. If I was looking for an apartment, I might cross it off my list.
Investor · FL · Member since 2015 · 40 posts · 24 votes
6y
@Tony Kim
I do 2 group showings. One on a Saturday and the other on a Sunday- one early, one a bit later in the afternoon. The dates and times of the two showings are in all the advertisements. Applications are available only at the showings.
Investor · Chattanooga, TN · Member since 2017 · 63 posts · 27 votes
6y
@Lisa Hoover great points Lisa, we do something very similar with our applications/placement process. Also, just as an add on to what others have been saying, we usually cluster appointments not only bc of creating urgency and competition, but as a bit of safety aspect. Cheers
Saint Joseph, MO · Member since 2018 · 401 posts · 244 votes
6y
@Tony Kim I am brand new to all this, but I was trying to get 2 units at my 8 plex rented, and a few started to flake. From then on out, we basically set up an open house. If you want to see apartment, come Saturday between 10-1. That seemed to work well, and we got it filled up. I have only been in the game for 1 month though. Take my comment with a grain of salt.
New to Real Estate · Member since 2019 · 11 posts · 4 votes
6y
Like several others have mentioned, prescreening is a step to have before setting up viewing appointments. You can make your own Google form with prescreen questions or sites like RentRedi have one built in to their platform and you can just click accept or reject on the prequalification apps. Generally, prescreen questions ask for information about # of renters, pets, smoking, credit score, income, etc. Great for weeding out the tenants that are definitely interested in the unit and those who aren't.
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
6y
Aside from pre-screening I tell them to do a drive by and call me back if they want to see it. The wishy washy ones just can't do that and those who don't know the area or are uncertain will drive by and call back if love it. Do say if you don't call 30 minutes ahead of the appointment I won't be there.