Contractor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2016 · 142 posts · 52 votes
Hey all,
Currently I am advertising for my upper unit, this is the first time I've bought something not already rented. I am collecting emails and sending them an email with the application. Basically, I have been having them apply, run back grounds and credit check before ever walking through the unit. There are 25+ pictures on the ad, it's been less than 48 hours, but I haven't gotten anything back. Is it unreasonable to have someone apply prior to ever having seen the unit in person? I've done this because I don't wanna walk a bunch of people through the upper unit of my home.
Typically people looking for a home, to buy or rent, are not going to invest any funds or effort into buying/renting without seeing the property first. The number of pictures is good as a representation but quite often one's perception of a home from images will be different when they actually view the property; room sizes, personal feel, etc. With COVID I can understand why you wouldn't want a bunch of people walking through the unit but your current approach isn't getting any traction.
If you remove the apply first, view second policy, I would expect you to get interest in the unit. You can require masks and limit the number of people per visit. You can also control the scheduling of when and how often the unit is viewed. Providing hand sanitizer to the potential tenant just before entering can also be helpful.
Anyone who would do that would meet my "too stupid to tenant" test. Make the sale and then close it with the application process. You'll get a higher quality (and thinking) tenant pool who doesn't see this as a ploy for stealing their personal information.
If you're trying to avoid a lot of showings, hold an "open showing" day/time and get it over in a few hours. Some landlords in my market are doing "self-guided" tours of apartments with lock boxes and a security camera or two.
Thank you all, I thought it was some next level strategy that only dedicated tenants would apply before seeing it. I was clearly wrong, both from you guys and from not getting a single application.
I am planning on doing an open house this weekend for people in light of this thread. Thank you all very much!