Recently I listed a rental on Zillow. We had done quite a bit of work on the house, part of which was exterior paint, so the house looked good in the picture. Interior pictures also looked good.

According to Zillow, we had 135 responses. Actually, I think it may have been more, because I'm guessing they only count the email responses people can make. There were some people who called, but most were emails.

To each email I responded with a standard email telling them the house was still available, and that we were scheduling showings. I went on to say that if they wanted to schedule a showing to text me with a preferred time. These were the basics, along with some other pleasantries.

The vast, vast majority of these people did not respond to my text. I'm wondering why they did not respond. This is not the first time this has happened with Zillow responses. We rented the house to someone who called, but I'd like to figure out whether this is common for Zillow, or whether something else is involved.

Thinking about it, I responded to their email, which has Zillow and listing information on it. I'm wondering if this somehow went to a junk folder and was never seen. Anyone have a thought on this?

Zillow is by far the medium that provides the greatest response for me (this now includes Trulia and Hotpads). But the percentage of people who actually schedule an appointment is quite low.

IMO first of all don't text. You're wasting your time and alienating possible tenants. I call introduce myself leave message or actually speak to the person. It gives me a chance to get a feel for the person. Texting is impersonal, and sometimes people feel it's a scam and with scams these days rightfully so. At some point you will need to talk to people. Being a LL is a people person type of job.

Rob: Thanks for your response. I hear what you're saying. But, I had 135 emails. I also had some phone calls. To respond by phone to that many emails is a pretty heavy time commitment.

I get that its a people business. I've been a landlord for close to 30 years. But, these days I see tenants using electronic communication, email, text or both. I also see them using voicemail. I've had pretty good luck with texting. But in the case of Zillow I responded to their email with an email. What I'm searching for is a reason why I got such a poor response to that.

Apparentlly you're saying the reason I got a poor response is that most people want to talk on the phone. That doesn't seem to jive with what I've observed in the last several years. Most of my communication with my tenants in the last several years is either text or email. Still a people business, just using different communication techniques.

They pulled up a list of X bedroom properties under $XXX per month and started clicking the contact button. It sends you a form email from them. They may not have really been interested in your property in the first place, it is just so easy to email.

I have had prospects contact me through Zillow, HotPads, and Trulia all within a few minutes of each other. They don't realize it is the same house on different sites, they are just emailing every house they may be interested in.

I've had the same experience. About 80 percent of the folks I call will ask me which ad I'm talking about as they've responded to so many. Heck, I've had folks looking for rentals in other parts of the state...or even the country...respond to my ad and after a few minutes learn they're looking for a place in Augusta Maine (for example) not Augusta Georgia.

I think a few things happen ... Have you ever replied to your own ad? If not - do it. You will be inundated with emails from Zillow (hot pads, etc) talking about apartments, some that are for rent, how about this one, here is a new one, this is still on the market, how your search is going, blah, blah, blah.

In addition to that - it's the same thing as the others are stating above - most just click the "quick response" button from their phone or ipad and whamo - you have an email indicating they are interested in your apartment you have for rent and to send them more information about it (canned).

I just respond to their email and include my number and advise them to call me if still interested. IF they provide a phone number - I will call them as well (don't be surprised though - many times the phone number they provide isn't "working" or as someone above stated "they have NO IDEA why you are calling them").

The last one is quite comical as that has happened to me a few times when I JUST get the email and I call them almost immediately (like within a minute or two) and when they answer they are stating things like "umm - Who are you looking for? OH, yeah, that's me .. No, we aren't looking to move ..." HUH?!?!

Funny cjl. I had no idea that Zillow bombsrded them. That probably means an emailed response gets lost in the shuffle.

I've had the response many times back when I used to call. It's one of the reasons I quit calling. They don't remember the property, they dont answer even moments after their call. I just was struck at the low rate of response to my emailed response. Almost as if it was all random.