Application before showing the unit?

Question

Hi all!

I’ll be renting out my first apartment soon and I’m interested in learning the best strategies of screening the applicants. Would you typically have the applicant submit an application before the showing or just a phone screen?

Any feedback about group showings as opposed to single showing would be helpful too.

Much appreciated!

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

@Andrew Duclos we think it is important to have people apply (with a completely filled out application) paystubs, previous LL information etc. All that just to see the place. Having invested this work they are far more inclined to show; in fact it is extremely rare for an applicant to not be there and on time for our showing. We had one in the past 12 months or so, and they were very apologetic, called us in advance and we rescheduled-they showed up etc. I don't recall if they are now a tenant or not.

People that see our units are very impressed with the cleanliness and freshness of the property. Thats the feedback. Very few do not become tenants.

Typically we get 70-80+ people contact us via Zillow or Apartments.com, we speak to about half, eliminate most of those, take a few applications and have  fewer actually do CC and BG.

We find that the people who have passed the screening by Zillow etc. it is a pretty meaningless process. Probably akin to the process they follow to place a Zestimate on your house! All the best!

Gray Hall · Answer

@Andrew Duclos

It depends on pricing. If you get 70 contacts in the first few days, the unit is likely under market value.

Submitting an application is a lot of leg work for a tenant. This could prevent a qualified tenant from viewing your unit. I’d recommend setting up group showings to minimize time spent showing the unit and lessen the pain of a no-show.