I really love leasing apartments. I have a well set up system to find and evaluate tenants and I’ve been doing it for years. One of the best things about it is that sometimes when I go to show apartments, we all go as a family group. My husband drives and we pack up my son and off we go. Generally we go do something else after.
My least favourite part of this job is the driving. It’s boring. Going with other people is more interesting. This was the plan for this evening’s showing in Mississauga. The property is about an hour away. My hubby is a very conscientious guy and he checked the traffic. There was an accident and the 401 Hwy was completely backed up. We decide to take an alternate route, which will take a little longer than an hour.
Confirmation Calls
Whenever I book a showing for a property I always require the potential tenant to call me an hour before the appointment. There are several benefits. First of all when people initially call, they ask questions about the rental which may eliminate the property from their search. Most potential tenants don’t care and will make an appointment if you ask and then stand you up. If you require them to call they won’t. This will save you a trip.
I don’t call the prospective tenant. I have found that if I do call them, a surprising number of people will say that they will show up. I then drive to the property and the people STAND ME UP. They then shut off their phone or ignore my calls. Some people just won’t say “No I don’t want the apartment” I don’t know why people are like this. I just know they are.
Motivation
You want your prospective tenant to be motivated enough by your apartment to call you. You don’t need tire kickers. People are nosy but also lazy. If you offer them the chance to come by and snoop they will. If they have to do more work, like call you, they won’t bother. Which leaves you with only more motivated potential tenants seeing your place, getting you to drive out and talking to you.
I Broke My Own Rule and Paid The Price
Tonight because of the traffic jam and the alternate route I decided to take off early without any confirmation calls. I had 4 showings booked so I thought I would be fine. I was wrong.We ended up in the car wasting gas. No one confirmed their appointment. No showings.
There’s another benefit
Another nice thing about confirmation calls is that if life happens which it always seems to, you can move the appointment back for yourself or the potential tenant. Things like traffic jams or having to work late wreak havoc with appointments. It allows for rescheduling.
Being Stood Up
I don’t like being stood up. It’s a waste of my time and gas. It does happen even with confirmation calls. The record amount of stand ups for me was 13 confirmed calls stood up one hour later. It was very horrible weather. Freezing rain. I drove all the way to the property in this mess only and not one person showed up. How depressing is that?
Don’t get discouraged if someone stands you up. It’s not you.. you’re in awesome company. I get stood up too.
Highly Recommended Practice
If you’re a landlord and you show your own properties, I highly suggest you implement the practice of getting your tenants to call one hour before their appointment. Save your gas and your time and minimize the chance of being stood up.