How do you handle showing requests while current guests are still in the unit?

Question

I've been getting more and more requests from prospective midterm guests asking to tour the property before booking. Many mention having been misled in the past by other landlords, usually about location or neighborhood quality, so I understand the hesitation.

That said, I’ve always prioritized guest privacy and have never allowed in-person showings while someone is staying. Instead, I send a detailed video walk-through I made, and that’s usually enough to reassure them.

This approach feels right to me, but I’m curious how others handle this. Have you ever allowed an in-person walk-through while a guest is occupying the unit? If so, how did your guest respond? Any pushback or awkward situations?

Appreciate any insight!

Allen Duan · Answer

We don't do property showings when they're occupied. For the same reason you've said, out of respect to our current guests. We're also comfortable with the possibility this turns off some leads because we have enough lead flow for bookings. If I was struggling to get a property booked and we had a great lead who absolutely needed a showing before booking, I'd consider asking our current guest if we can show the home. Maybe I'd send them a gift afterwards =)

Travis Timmons · Answer

Only do a showing if you cannot book the place without it. We have self managed out of state mid term rentals for 6 years now and have never done a single showing. When people ask, we just state that we have tenants and cannot show the property. That has always been true, but even if the place was vacant, I would not do showing bc our properties get booked without the need to offer it.

Miguel Del Mazo · Answer

Like Allen, we prioritize the comfort of the existing guest for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it's the right thing to do, but also because financially, it's also more advantageous.

Our number one lead source to fill an upcoming vacancy is the current resident. We don't want to do anything to jeopardize that relationship. Ironically, by making sure the existing resident is prioritized *and feels prioritized*, we have the ability to ask for the occasional special consideration (like doing a showing while the unit is occupied). If you are going to ask a resident to allow a showing, definitely start with asking if they have plans to extend. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".

Andrew Street · Answer

Yeah, I totally get why guests would want to see the place before booking, especially if they've had bad experiences before. We do allow in-person viewings, but only when the unit isn’t occupied, that way, we can still prioritize guest privacy while giving prospective renters a chance to check it out.

How do you handle those requests when someone really pushes for a tour while a guest is still staying? Do you ever get people who aren’t satisfied with just the video walkthrough?

How do you handle showing requests while current guests are still in the unit?

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