Sometimes, the best way to get something done is to do it from home. Agoraphobics will get everything delivered, game developers perfect their office to exactly their liking so they can spend hours creating, and the best reading nook is one built in a private corner of the living room. More and more people are working from home these days where all they need is a good internet connection and the ability to plug in their ideal cup of coffee. As a property owner and manager, can you follow in their footsteps and work entirely from a virtual office?
With the right tools, that answer is yes.
Sometimes, the best way to get something done is to do it from home. Agoraphobics will get everything delivered, game developers perfect their office to exactly their liking so they can spend hours creating, and the best reading nook is one built in a private corner of the living room. More and more people are working from home these days where all they need is a good internet connection and the ability to plug in their ideal cup of coffee. As a property owner and manager, can you follow in their footsteps and work entirely from a virtual office?
With the right tools, that answer is yes.
Step 1: Online Marketing
There are plenty of ways to market a vacancy for your rental property. Word of mouth is a fantastic, wildfire tool that can really spread information, but that is what it is: wild fire. You cannot control it. There are other ways to market your property. Plenty of people will talk about Craigslist, magazine ads and more, but what else is there.
For short term rentals, you can consider Airbnb, Vrbo, and many others that are like it. There are also sites that target medical staff for short term leases which can last for months at a time as they are in need of housing constantly. A real estate agent will help with some viewings but never underestimate the power of free listings. This could be Apartments.com, Zillow.com, or Hotpads.com.
Step One: Online Marketing
There are plenty of ways to market a vacancy for your rental property. Word of mouth is a fantastic, wildfire tool that can really spread information, but that is what it is: wild fire. You cannot control it. There are other ways to market your property. Plenty of people will talk about Craigslist, magazine ads and more, but what else is there.
For short term rentals, you can consider Airbnb, Vrbo, and many others that are like it. There are also sites that target medical staff for short term leases which can last for months at a time as they are in need of housing constantly. A real estate agent will help with some viewings but never underestimate the power of free listings. This could be Apartments.com, Zillow.com, or Hotpads.com.
Step 2: Virtual Tour
There are two types of virtual rental property tours. One is a 3D (ish) tour you can upload in lieu of, or with, standard photographs that you use to pull a potential applicant in. This requires the ability to take panoramic photographs that then become a tour that people can pinch and zoom and look around as they please. To accomplish this a newer smartphone or professional camera with panorama will be required. You will have to initially go to the property (or hire someone) to create this, but after that, you’re good.
The other is live, meaning while the potential applicant may leave, you or a real estate agent may go to the vacant property, and video chat with the potential applicant. The real estate agent or yourself will walk around and talk to the potential applicant. They’ll talk about what they see, the beautiful small details you won’t see in pictures, such as soft closing kitchen drawers, wainscoting on the walls, an updated light fixture, or how new the water heater is. This is particularly useful for people who are looking to move states, have children they need to wrangle, want to save gas, and a whole slew of other reasons to stay home. Offering a virtual walk through or the 3D Panoramic opens you up to new applicants you may not have gotten otherwise.
Step 2: Virtual Tour
There are two types of virtual rental property tours. One is a 3D (ish) tour you can upload in lieu of, or with, standard photographs that you use to pull a potential applicant in. This requires the ability to take panoramic photographs that then become a tour that people can pinch and zoom and look around as they please. To accomplish this a newer smartphone or professional camera with panorama will be required. You will have to initially go to the property (or hire someone) to create this, but after that, you’re good.
The other is live, meaning while the potential applicant may leave, you or a real estate agent may go to the vacant property, and video chat with the potential applicant. The real estate agent or yourself will walk around and talk to the potential applicant. They’ll talk about what they see, the beautiful small details you won’t see in pictures, such as soft closing kitchen drawers, wainscoting on the walls, an updated light fixture, or how new the water heater is. This is particularly useful for people who are looking to move states, have children they need to wrangle, want to save gas, and a whole slew of other reasons to stay home. Offering a virtual walk through or the 3D Panoramic opens you up to new applicants you may not have gotten otherwise.
Step 3: Online Applications
Applying online makes everyone’s lives easier. No one has to get up, no paper is wasted, no gas is spent, no one has to ask everyone around if they have a pen. If they can apply with something as simple as a link, there’s no worry, no stress. It can be done with ease Making it easy enough that your applicants can simply type in their information, and once it’s done, you can review all your online applications from the comfort of your pajamas as you scroll through your phone is an ideal solution.
Step 3: Online Applications
Applying online makes everyone’s lives easier. No one has to get up, no paper is wasted, no gas is spent, no one has to ask everyone around if they have a pen. If they can apply with something as simple as a link, there’s no worry, no stress. It can be done with ease Making it easy enough that your applicants can simply type in their information, and once it’s done, you can review all your online applications from the comfort of your pajamas as you scroll through your phone is an ideal solution.
Step 4: Background Check online
Once the application is in and you’re in the process of picking the best candidate, you’ll need a background check. That doesn’t have to mean collecting tons of applicant information on a document you have to store on file for years, or even having to go through complex and expensive processes for setting up a traditional tenant screening account. You can complete all of it online without ever interacting face-to-face with your applicants. Consumer-Initiated tenant screening, such as ApplyConnect, as a fast and reliable way of reviewing your applicants’ credit and background before making a decision. These sites can generally let you create a free account online in a couple of minutes, and as an added bonus will have your applicants purchase the report which adds the benefit of reducing your expenses.
Step 4: Background Check online
Once the application is in and you’re in the process of picking the best candidate, you’ll need a background check. That doesn’t have to mean collecting tons of applicant information on a document you have to store on file for years, or even having to go through complex and expensive processes for setting up a traditional tenant screening account. You can complete all of it online without ever interacting face-to-face with your applicants. Consumer-Initiated tenant screening, such as ApplyConnect, as a fast and reliable way of reviewing your applicants’ credit and background before making a decision. These sites can generally let you create a free account online in a couple of minutes, and as an added bonus will have your applicants purchase the report which adds the benefit of reducing your expenses.
Step 5: Approval Online
Yes, you can even send the approval online. This can be as easy as pressing a button on your Landlord Dashboard. It will save you on paper, ink, and time as you won’t be wasting it on printouts, stamps and envelopes. If your tenant screening provider offers decision letters then this can also reduce your liabilities by having a ready-to-use notification that can be sent to your applicant after their background check is reviewed. From here, you can promise an entirely virtual, no contact needed online application. If that isn’t enough you can proceed to step six.
Step 5: Approval Online
Yes, you can even send the approval online. This can be as easy as pressing a button on your Landlord Dashboard. It will save you on paper, ink, and time as you won’t be wasting it on printouts, stamps and envelopes. If your tenant screening provider offers decision letters then this can also reduce your liabilities by having a ready-to-use notification that can be sent to your applicant after their background check is reviewed. From here, you can promise an entirely virtual, no contact needed online application. If that isn’t enough you can proceed to step six.
Step 6: Online Lease Agreement
So, you found the perfect tenant. That’s amazing! It makes sense you will want to have the lease agreement online. There are plenty of ways to get that e-signature on the dotted lines, from docusign, eforms, or more advanced products that will cover you from application through lease such as Ready2Apply.
Then it’s all done! You’re ready for everyone to move on and move in. Hopefully you managed to find your tenant without ever being required to break social distancing, or leave your office for several hours. While it’s nice to meet in person, it’s even better to have all options available.
Step 6: Online Lease Agreement
So, you found the perfect tenant. That’s amazing! It makes sense you will want to have the lease agreement online. There are plenty of ways to get that e-signature on the dotted lines, from docusign, eforms, or more advanced products that will cover you from application through lease such as Ready2Apply.
Then it’s all done! You’re ready for everyone to move on and move in. Hopefully you managed to find your tenant without ever being required to break social distancing, or leave your office for several hours. While it’s nice to meet in person, it’s even better to have all options available.
Step 7: Rent Collection
Physical money is notoriously dirty. Unless you live in Canada where you can wash your dollar bills, paper money is notorious for how filthy it is. And really, a check isn’t much better these days. You don’t know who handled it, if the banker printing it washed their hands or what was in the purse the check book rattled around in. These concerns don’t even take into account bounced checks, or playing the waiting game if a check was sent the day rent is due and won’t arrive until several days later.
Online rent payment is the healthiest, fastest option when virtualizing your leasing process. Consider using online resources, such as PayRent, to keep everyone clean, safe, and paid on-time.
Step 7: Rent Collection
Physical money is notoriously dirty. Unless you live in Canada where you can wash your dollar bills, paper money is notorious for how filthy it is. And really, a check isn’t much better these days. You don’t know who handled it, if the banker printing it washed their hands or what was in the purse the check book rattled around in. These concerns don’t even take into account bounced checks, or playing the waiting game if a check was sent the day rent is due and won’t arrive until several days later.
Online rent payment is the healthiest, fastest option when virtualizing your leasing process. Consider using online resources, such as PayRent, to keep everyone clean, safe, and paid on-time.
2 Replies to “How You Can Approve the Best Tenants Without Meeting Them”
Can you have a real person on the ground in Kona, Hawaii (Big Island) to help me get a new tenant installed, see that there is no big problem in the house, take their check and mail it to me (so I know there is a check on the way) or deposit it in my local on-island account? And hand them the keys. The town is Kailua-Kona, zip is 96740. The house is about a mile from downtown area. Please advise.
Hi Mar,
We provide online credit reports and background checks with marketing tools and rental applications. Unfortunately ApplyConnect does not have anyone who works remotely to help with all of the items you’ve requested.