Showing up a half hour late for a showinh

Rental Property Investor · NJ · Member since 2019 · 442 posts · 40 votes

A potential tenant called at 2:00 that they wanna see an apartment I have for rent, I asked them when they can be there, and they said at 2:30.

they arrived at 3:00...

what are your remarks?

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Ralph Justiz

Realtor · Edmond, OK · Member since 2019 · 123 posts · 79 votes

I would not have waited that long! I do open house style showings, private showings take up too much time. If people do not show up within 15 minutes of the agreed upon time I leave. If they want to still see the house after they no-show a showing I give them the date for the next open house showing. 90% of the time they don't attempt to see the house again.

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Mitch Messer
Lender · Playa del Carmen, México · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
@Sami Gren This is exactly why I stopped physically showing rentals over a decade ago! To date, we've successfully completed over 3,000 viewings remotely!
1 Reply
Ralph Justiz
Realtor · Edmond, OK · Member since 2019 · 123 posts · 79 votes
6y
I would not have waited that long! I do open house style showings, private showings take up too much time. If people do not show up within 15 minutes of the agreed upon time I leave. If they want to still see the house after they no-show a showing I give them the date for the next open house showing. 90% of the time they don't attempt to see the house again.
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Scott Mac
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
6y
Better late than never.
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Sami Gren
OP
Rental Property Investor · NJ · Member since 2019 · 442 posts · 40 votes
6y
Originally posted by @Scott Mac:
Better late than never.
my question is if they are late at the first time meeting the landlord, will rent arrive (n)ever?

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Sami Gren
OP
Rental Property Investor · NJ · Member since 2019 · 442 posts · 40 votes
6y
Originally posted by @Mitch Messer:
@Sami Gren This is exactly why I stopped physically showing rentals over a decade ago! To date, we've successfully completed over 3,000 viewings remotely!

I wasnt concerned for my time as much as I was concerned for the "type" people they are, I think if someone can be so careless and let the landlord wait a half hour and not even bother to call. That's a sign that your rent can be in an even worse situation.
and about me physically being there. That's THE most important in my opinion, you can see the most in a person only when you meet them in person, I already saved my self a ton of headache by seeing them in person

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Scott Mac
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @Sami Gren:
Originally posted by @Scott Mac:
Better late than never.
my question is if they are late at the first time meeting the landlord, will rent arrive (n)ever?

To me there doesn't seem to be any way to predict that based on simply arriving late.
Just my 2 cents.

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Sami Gren
OP
Rental Property Investor · NJ · Member since 2019 · 442 posts · 40 votes
6y

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Andrew B.
Rockaway, NJ · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
Honestly, since this was obviously a last minute setup, I understand them being late. If I told you to drop everything right now and go somewhere 30 mins away, would you get there in 30 mins? No. I would say them agreeing to be there in 30 mins shows poor short term thinking. If this was planned in advance, then I would agree that it was a sign of irresponsibility. That being said, you should move toward a looser format where you are meeting multiple tenants at once so you don't have to deal with this in the future.
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Sami Gren
OP
Rental Property Investor · NJ · Member since 2019 · 442 posts · 40 votes
6y
Originally posted by @Scott Mac:
Originally posted by @Sami Gren:
Originally posted by @Scott Mac:
Better late than never.
my question is if they are late at the first time meeting the landlord, will rent arrive (n)ever?

To me there doesn't seem to be any way to predict that based on simply arriving late.
Just my 2 cents.

the prediction Is based on when a person does not Have any Consciousness to call up and say I will be a half hour late. It shows that when they will not be so comfortable and not be Able to pay the rent they won't care either, and if they will have an other expense that they want to buy at the time they will rather buy the other stuff rather than paying the rent.
Its not a fact at all, but definitely a concern

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Sami Gren
OP
Rental Property Investor · NJ · Member since 2019 · 442 posts · 40 votes
6y
Originally posted by @Andrew B.:
Honestly, since this was obviously a last minute setup, I understand them being late. If I told you to drop everything right now and go somewhere 30 mins away, would you get there in 30 mins? No. I would say them agreeing to be there in 30 mins shows poor short term thinking. If this was planned in advance, then I would agree that it was a sign of irresponsibility. That being said, you should move toward a looser format where you are meeting multiple tenants at once so you don't have to deal with this in the future.
whether it shows Irresponsibility or it shows poor short-term thinking, it definitely shows something poor...
and not the caliber that you would want as a tenant.

And regarding making Viewings with short-term notice, I was anyway showing it today. I just like to have an appointment with each person. and the people live a few minutes away and they were the one that said that they want to be there in a half hour. They could have waited two hours also.

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Andrew B.
Rockaway, NJ · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @Sami Gren:
Originally posted by @Andrew B.:
Honestly, since this was obviously a last minute setup, I understand them being late. If I told you to drop everything right now and go somewhere 30 mins away, would you get there in 30 mins? No. I would say them agreeing to be there in 30 mins shows poor short term thinking. If this was planned in advance, then I would agree that it was a sign of irresponsibility. That being said, you should move toward a looser format where you are meeting multiple tenants at once so you don't have to deal with this in the future.
whether it shows Irresponsibility or it shows poor short-term thinking, it definitely shows something poor...
and not the caliber that you would want as a tenant.

And regarding making Viewings with short-term notice, I was anyway showing it today. I just like to have an appointment with each person. and the people live a few minutes away and they were the one that said that they want to be there in a half hour. They could have waited two hours also.

I'm not disagreeing with you, I just think you're making this into a bigger deal than it is. If we were on the phone and said, lets meet up now, I would probably, almost instinctively, say "I'll see you in 30 minutes." Of course, if this is just one red flag among others, that's a different story. If this is the only issue you notice, I don't think this is worth being on your radar.
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Mike CumbieBusiness Member
REALTOR® · Brockport, NY · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
6y
Generally I would not have waited that long myself. did they acknowledge they were late? Did an apology come in or at least a plausible excuse? I don't think I would write them off totally but it wouldn't be starting off with a plus.
Good luck on whatever you decide.
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Sami Gren
OP
Rental Property Investor · NJ · Member since 2019 · 442 posts · 40 votes
6y
Originally posted by @Mike Cumbie:
Generally I would not have waited that long myself. did they acknowledge they were late? Did an apology come in or at least a plausible excuse? I don't think I would write them off totally but it wouldn't be starting off with a plus.
Good luck on whatever you decide.
I generally dnot like to bring it up right away, in case they don't want the apartment, then there is no reason for me to confront them about it.
and they actually did not want the apartment since they wanted much larger bedrooms

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Robert Crowley
Rental Property Investor · Great Mills, MD · Member since 2014 · 21 posts · 13 votes
6y
I would not have waited that long. About 15 minutes is it. Unless I got a call/text stating they would be late. Assuming they didn't, and you waited it out, I'd expect a apology/explanation/admission of guilt/....something from them. Had I not received anything like that, my body language and tone would have changed to hint to them that they do not want me as a landlord. (this would be quite natural since I'd be nearly fuming at that point) Maybe reiterate things like rent, late fees, deposits, early termination,....the things that tenants don't like to hear about.
Just an idea.
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Wesley W.
Rental Property Investor · The Vampire State · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
If a candidate requests a showing, I send them this email:

Hi Sally,

How about Thursday at 7 pm? If that works for you, please reply to this email within 36 hours to accept this appointment and I will then add you to my showing schedule.

Also, as a means of courtesy to both our busy schedules, please confirm via text or phone call at least 2 hours prior on the day of the showing to my cell phone (area code and number).

I’ve also attached our rental application. I will have hard copies at the showing, but if you print and fill them out prior to the showing, this would save us both some time should you want to expedite your application in the process.

I look forward to meeting you on Thursday!

If they have not confirmed an hour prior to their appointment, I send this text to their phone (which was required as part of their contact information I required in the response to my ad):

As I had requested in my email, you have not yet confirmed your apartment showing for this evening, scheduled for 7:00pm. If I don’t hear from you in the next 10 minutes, I will assume you aren’t attending and I will move on to my next appointment.

Using this system as dramatically reduced any wasted time I used to endure as part of the showing process as well as giving me data about their timeliness/responsiveness/respect for others' time.
I'm of the philosophy that showings are where you see your tenant on their best behavior. It doesn't get better from there. I would absolutely pass on any applicant that confirmed but then did not show. And, as I stated above, I would be long gone by the time they showed up and I would ghost them as soon as I pulled away from the curb.
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Ronan DonnellyPro Member
Investor · New York City, NY · Member since 2012 · 332 posts · 385 votes
6y
@Sami Gren, if being on time is one of your criteria that must be met then I would suggest. Just sticking with it and moving on. If you find that this criteria or any other isn’t working as well as you thought it would simply adjust your criteria. Setting defined criteria will allow you to focus on higher value add activities. Good luck!
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Matthew Paul
Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
6y
I would have waited at the most 10 minutes and left . I have had people call me after I have left and said they were here to see the house . I give a 2 hour window when I will be there . Between 3 pm till 5 pm . I get a call at 5 30 and they ask if they can see it. Sorry , not showing till next week
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JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
6y
Our process is fairly similar to @Wesley W. , maybe other than we use all electronic applications. We batch showings, meaning one at 1 PM, next at 1:10 or 1:15, etc. We confirm 1 hour before showing time by text. If they do not answer they are considered a no-show, which isn't a big deal since we batch showings anyway. If they show up, fine because someone is there anyway; if they don't, nothing is lost. If they confirm whoever is showing will wait 10 minutes past the appointed time before leaving.

It is rare that anyone drops what they are doing to do a showing for us. Those types of tenants usually don't work out or even take the place anyway. Our best tenants have always been the deliberate ones - schedule well ahead of time, know exactly what they are looking for, etc.
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Kenneth GarrettPro Member
Investor · Florida Panhandle/Illinois · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
@Sami Gren

I agree with @Ralph Justiz I use the open house system. State a time and day. I usually only wait 15 minutes past the time frame. If they call me and state they are running late I will wait if possible.
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Account Closed
Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
@Sami Gren
My remarks are why were you still there at 3? Why were you there at all? Start pre-screening and I recommend doing it via email. Personally I hate when my phone rings. Regardless, adios to these folks.
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