Tenants Love Rental Showings?

Continuing with the theme from our last blog, below is another letter (this time from a tenant) entitled, “I’m Lonely, Please Send More Visitors.”

Dear BDF Realty,

I was disappointed to give my 30-day notice to vacate the other day.  You guys are the greatest property managers (BDF side note: Wow!  Thanks!) and it will be depressing to leave the rental home.  I mean really depressing.

But much to my joy and amazement, I started getting calls from your showing service saying that people wanted to come to MY house to see it!  Here I am, bored at home with no reason to get out of the house, and I start getting call after call with people who want to set appointments to come over!

I mean here was my typical schedule before I gave my notice to vacate:

8 AM – 8 PM: bored at home-nothing to do

8 PM – 10 PM: “Arrow” comes on TV, followed by “The Flash” (Wednesday’s only)

BUT…after giving my notice:

7:40 AM: need to clean home before a Realtor showing

8 AM: leave home while Realtor shows property

8:15 AM: return home

8:45 AM: leave home for showing

9:00 AM: return

11:30 AM: leave home

11:45 AM: return

And that’s just the first morning!  I can’t wait to see how many people wind up stopping in when all is said and done.  I feel like the President! 

Thanks again!

Lonely

Okay, I’ve yet to get a letter like this and never expect to.  Tenants dislike rental showings for good reason.  Who wants strangers trudging through their homes?  Then having the expectation to keep the home clean while packing up boxes to move?  And then being asked to leave the home during the showings (that they are paying to live in, nonetheless!)?  I wouldn’t!

So why would tenants be asked to do this?

For several reasons:

1.  Usually it is a condition of occupancy that they sign on for in a proper lease

2.  It allows other renters to find a home for their families too.  The tenants were probably looking at some inhabited rentals during their rental home search.  This could be viewed as renter common courtesy.

3.  Being a team player for the owner with a slight mix of sympathy/empathy.  Vacancy costs money.  The less time the rental home sits vacant, the less financial and emotional strain on the owner.  Maybe they are renting out their house in another state and can empathize?   

Of course, to make it work for everyone, there are common courtesies that should be exercised.  A 24-hour notice should be honored.  If there are guests visiting or a child is sick, there should be leniency in allowing the tenant to cancel showings.  And I believe in giving the tenant final approval on scheduling showings; “It’s not a good day” is a valid excuse on occasion, though this shouldn’t be abused.  And no one should EVER just show up on the doorstep expecting to get in.

We’re all people and no one really likes allowing strangers into their home.  However, if done respectfully, all parties (tenants, owners, and property managers) should be able to live with them. 

Most tenants won’t “feel like the President” when dealing with multiple showings at their house, but even President Obama has to deal with things he’d rather not sometimes.  It’s a necessary evil in the rental game.

Brett Furniss is the President & Owner of BDF Realty (Charlotte Residential Property Management), the trusted real estate advisor for Charlotte landlords & Home of $100 Flat Fee Property Management.   BDF Realty utilizes their innovative Pod System for exceptional customer service in residential property management, home repairs, and home sales for single-family homes, condos, and town homes in the Charlotte-Metro Area.  Contact Us Today!