By now you probably have your showing process down, but it wouldn’t hurt to consider new ways to get more interested applicants to seal the deal. By doing some preparations before the showing, considering basic staging, and being confident in your property, you’ll be able to attract more applicants than ever. So what are you waiting for?
Always Prepare Beforehand
The more prepared you are, the less you’ll have to think on your feet. So go early and do a quick walk-through of the vacancy.Try to take note of specific features you want to highlight (like a walk-in closet or view). By taking your time, you’ll feel more comfortable with the space which will help your applicants feel at ease. While looking around, you might find that certain places on the property aren’t as clean as you’d want them to be. In these cases you should keep a basic cleaning toolbox with you, stocked with things like:
- Windex
- Paper towels
- Disinfecting wipes
- A small dustpan and brush
- Bug spray
- Spare light bulbs
- Pocket knife
- Screwdriver
- Flashlight
- Drywall putty + putty knife
Of course, if the property you’re showing still has tenants living there, then you’ll have to depend on them to maintain cleanliness. Consider offering incentives (like paying a portion of their utility bill) to make sure your applicants see a clean property. Text your current tenants reminding them that you’ll be coming by with applicants (in addition to giving proper notice) as well. Of course, if you do notice cosmetic problems that are unavoidable to the applicant’s eye, make sure to point out to your applicants how you’ll fix it up for them. The more time you have beforehand to prepare, the better the chance you’ll be able to address these problems even before the applicant sees them.
Do Basic Staging to Stand Out When Possible
Like we said in Getting the Perfect Tenant, you don’t need to do any Extreme Makeover changes to make your potential applicants have the same flabbergasted response. All you need to do is emphasize the 3 top rooms: the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom. You can do this by opening up the curtains to bring in the natural light and highlight your property’s space. Add a touch of home by placing flowers, live plants, and candles around your rental property. If you have existing tenants living in the property then these things won’t be necessary, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask your tenants if they’d be comfortable if you brought a candle or diffuser into their home during showings. Utilizing your applicant’s senses can have a powerful impact on positive and negative emotional responses. Even paint colors can improve your rental’s marketability!
Ultimately you want as many applicants as you can get, so make sure to have space where interested applicants can grab an application, or even fill it out! Just grab a cheap pop-up table, a tablecloth, and some pens and you’re good to go. You never know if you’ll have everyone’s contact info, so you can make this space double as a sign-in station and be sure to mention if you have online applications available.
Do What You Do Best
You know what to do here on out; be confident! Provide a balance of important information and space when showing your property to interested applicants. Let them fall in love with your rental at their own pace, but don’t let them forget the important details like rental price, deposit, if renters insurance is required, utilities included, and that a background check will be performed. The more they know, the more likely they’ll apply.
Showing a property is a lot of pressure. You have listings to write, rental photos to take, and showings to schedule—and after all that, you have a big rental decision. While the jury’s still out on whether showing a property is easier with or without the existing tenants living there, these few techniques will help you get more applicants regardless. So go ahead and do what you do best!
Are there any unique things you do when showing your property? Have you used any of these techniques before? Share your experiences in the comments section below and be sure to subscribe!
