Leasing your University City rental home is a very important process. Even the very first screening calls matter if you want to attract and retain responsible and quality tenants. You must ensure that even at this point, your prospects have a positive experience. Whether you call it good customer service or just common courtesy, the most successful rental property owners know that there are specific things you can do during the viewing process to get your preferred applicant to sign a lease.
Just having a tenant check out your rental home does not make for a complete property viewing experience. This is, most likely, also the time they decide whether or not to rent the home from you. To raise the chances of having your property occupied, make sure you do not turn away qualified applicants with a negative experience. Managing that experience is an important skill to develop. Consistently practice being pleasant and polite on the phone, regardless of how you are feeling at the moment. To help guide you during your interactions, bear in mind that the person on the phone is one who is worth your courtesy and respect.
With these customer service strategies, you can impress your tenant once again during the property viewing of your rental home. Show up as a professional for all your viewing appointments. That means that you should dress nicely, in business or business casual clothes. You should also anticipate your applicant’s questions, not just about the property but also about the neighborhood, nearby amenities, schools, public transportation, and other points of interest. Mention the area’s best selling points to your prospects at strategic points during your conversation as you go around the property.
Aside from professionalism, it is also good to establish rapport with each applicant on a personal level. It’s a good practice to greet each prospective tenant and ask for their name so you can use it often during your tour. Aside from being polite, it also shows that you see them as individuals, and not just your next rent check. The secret to selling anything is to establish a personal connection. You can start by talking about appropriate topics and asking questions about them, their interests, or work. Avoid anything that may be viewed as too personal or that might make your applicant uncomfortable (religion, politics, or family status, for example).
Finally, remember that although renting a house is a business to you, to your prospective tenant, it is about finding their next home. They may arrive exhausted from their search or may have a lot of questions. Either way, greeting them with a pleasant tone and a clean, well-maintained property can help you and the rental property stand out from the crowd. A home should make you feel safe– both homeowner or renter alike. Help them imagine themselves living, relaxing, and just enjoying life in the home and it will improve your chances of leasing your rental property right away.
Learn and use these customer service techniques and you may find vacancies to be a thing of the past.
Whether you’ve already got a lease signed for your investment property or need someone to find a tenant for you, Real Property Management Endeavor can help manage your rental. Contact us online or give us a call at 636-244-5959.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
