We are getting a lot of questions about how are we dealing with leasing rentals during the lockdown. How are we leasing homes while maintaining social distancing guidelines during the COVID Crises? On top of the virus concerns, we are seeing an increase in people trying to scam online listings. In this video Eddie goes over the steps you can take to maintain a safe, distant and successful showing process.
Our homes are renting and people are moving in. Below is an outline of what is covered in the video. Watch the video to see the full self-showing tour process!
Before the Tour
Safety precautions can start before someone even steps foot in the unit. On your website, a prospect can get a really good idea of a what a unit looks like before they visit. Post lots of pictures and a video tour. This allows for a prospect to decide whether the rental is worth a tour in person.
Setting Up a Showing
Our homes are available for viewing 7 days a week from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. This allows all interested prospects to view the unit whether they work first, second or third shift. Here is the quick and easy process to view a unit with self-showing lock boxes.
- Go to our website to view available rentals.
- Click on the “Request Showing” Button.
- Sign in or register with Rently.
- Go to the rental.
- Type in the PIN number you receive-lockbox will open.
- Remove key, open door and take your self-guided tour.
How to Make Self-Guided Tours Even Safer:
Business Placard
Make sure the prospect knows who they are supposed to be dealing with. We post a placard that reads “Access Property Management Group” to help protect those prospects that may have seen our listing stolen by a scammer. This allows the prospect to realize that the scammer is lying and the home is actually managed by our management company.
Screening Criteria and How to Apply
In the kitchen of the rental, we have a paper that the prospect can take with them. It lists our screening criteria and how to fill out an application. This will give the prospect the direct process of applying for one of our units.
Scam Warning Flyer
One would think that at this point, it would be clear to a prospect about who is leasing the unit and how NOT to be scammed. But as Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Common sense is as rare as genius.” SO we also tape bright orange paper in a few areas in the home. These papers warn prospects about scammers and how to spot if they are being scammed.
Additional Precautions
- Don’t walk through a unit you don’t want!
- A full general cleaning before the unit is listed
- A touch up cleaning after the unit is rented
In Conclusion
We take these matters seriously. We know it is important to protect our clients investments while also protecting everyones health and safety. These are the steps we are taking to protect clients, tenant prospects and ourselves while leasing during the COVID Crisis. If you have any more questions about our lockboxes or self-showing process, feel free to reach out. You can email, call or contact us through our website.