A Landlord's Complete Guide To Rental Showings
The prepping process for your home showings begins well before you open the door to your first prospective renter. To do this effectively, you must ensure proper safety protocols are in place to protect both yourself and potential future tenants. Having a clear plan will help make sure that each property viewing is safe for all involved parties.
In this article, we will help you look at your home from the perspective of a qualified tenant who is excited to move into and care for their new home. If you expect a tenant to maintain your property in a particular condition, you need to set the standard by example.
Safety Repairs
Take advantage of this time to make any repairs that may be needed for the safety of your tenants. Ensure all necessary lights are functioning, check smoke detectors and fire alarms, and hand railings. It is an extremely important step to ensure that your property is 100% safe before inviting the public into it. If you don’t know how to repair certain items yourself, hire a professional service to come out and take care of the job.
Maintenance
Completing maintenance tasks not only keeps your home in a profitable condition but also exhibits your dedication to the property's upkeep to a prospective tenant. These tasks can include power washing siding, touch-up painting and replacing or updating fixtures. A well-maintained property attracts higher-quality tenants and shows those tenants an example of how you expect the home to be maintained.
Cleaning
Cleaning your property is an absolute must before any showings! A clean and well-maintained home speaks volumes to prospective tenants. Make sure carpets are vacuumed, floors are swept and mopped, windows are wiped down, closets and cabinets are empty and dust-free. A professional deep cleaning is always a good idea. Renters search for their new homes using all their senses, and having the property deep cleaned can make a huge difference in how it looks, feels, and smells.
Avoid Empty Houses
Never show a property when it's empty. Having a friend, family member, or another agent present can discourage potential threats and assist if needed.
Advertise and Pre-Qualify
It is important to advertise your rental property to as many qualified potential tenants as possible to give you the best chance of renting it out quickly to the best candidate. There are several professional and DIY advertising methods; no matter which you choose, be sure that the ad contains information on how to schedule an appointment and the requirements and procedure to apply. Being honest and upfront in your ad allows renters to pre-qualify themselves before contacting you, reducing non-productive communication.
Once the inquiries begin rolling in, you should have a pre-qualification process. This can be as little as a few questions, such as
1. What is your gross income?
2. What is your credit score?
3. When do you want to move?
You should remain consistent throughout your process and ask everyone the same questions. Avoid the "no-no" questions to avoid any housing violations based on an illegal bias. No one likes to waste time or money; having a pre-qualification process helps you and your prospective tenant avoid wasting either.
Verify Identification Before Meeting
It's important for your safety to confirm the identity of every potential tenant before the viewing. You can do this by asking for their IDs or conducting a quick online search. No one should enter your property without you first knowing who they are.
Schedule Your Showings
Steps to schedule property showings are straightforward and can be done online or via phone. Try to be flexible in your scheduling, but you should always provide a precise time limit.
How to set the stage on showing day
On the day of your scheduled showings, be sure to arrive early and to tend to the details.
Temperature
Setting the thermostat to a comfortable setting for each season is an important way to make a prospective tenant feel welcome. In the winter, when it's cold and blustery outside, you want your renter to walk into a warm environment where they can remove their outdoor layers and wrap themselves in a sense of relief. Similarly, in summer months, keeping indoor temperatures at the right coolness level will make the indoors just comfortable enough for tenants to easily relax and be reminded of the security that comes with having a home of their own. You never want your prospective tenant to feel too cold or hot – as this could make them uneasy and uncomfortable. Regarding comfort levels, ensure you set the thermostat just right so that renters experience a greater sense of home as soon as they step inside.
Let the light in
Brightening up a home is a simple and effective way to instantly boost its appearance, atmosphere, and even sense of spaciousness. Turning on all the lights, opening doors between rooms (if applicable) and lifting shades are quick ways to accomplish this. Natural light is often preferable for both physical brightness as well as mood, but artificial lighting can be employed in addition to the natural variety. Either way, studies have shown that brighter environments make people more relaxed, positive and productive, while darker ones create feelings of gloominess or fatigue. Incorporating brightness into the home may help transform it into a peaceful sanctuary or an invigorating workspace in no time at all!
Don't Overlook the Ambiance
Small touches really can make a huge impact in transforming a house into a home. A vase of beautiful, vibrant flowers on an entryway table is one such touch that can add character and charm to any space. Similarly, soft instrumental music playing quietly in the background has been known to create a peaceful and cozy ambiance, making it feel like you truly belong in the home. It is interesting how these small elements can quickly alter our impression of an environment; the presence of something so simple as a colorful bouquet lifts the atmosphere tremendously, transforming an average showing into a dynamic and inviting experience.
Stock the Basics
Be sure to be stocked with the basics. Have toilet paper, soap, paper towels and a trash can available because life happens, and a few cleaning products handy to help you clean up if necessary; it's always best to stay prepared.
Open the door to your new tenant.
Make a concerted effort to greet everyone at the door and stay pleasantly engaged and available to answer questions about the property, neighborhood and process. Have conversations, not inquisitions, allowing viewers to feel at home. Treat everyone the same and stay away from discriminatory questions and statements. Remember, the showing appointment isn't the appropriate time to negotiate the lease, so avoid making promises or changes on the spot. Have the property information and application readily available and follow up with the strongest prospects afterward to discuss the next steps.
Conclusion
Overall, showings are vital to renting out a home or property. It’s important to make sure that the property looks its best and those potential renters have all the information they need in order to make an informed decision. With careful planning and organizing before each showing, you can relax knowing you’re doing everything you can to attract quality tenants.