 something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 17, 2019 9:12 AM
 something wrong (by S i d [MO]) Jan 17, 2019 9:21 AM
something wrong (by RB [MI]) Jan 17, 2019 9:23 AM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 17, 2019 9:44 AM
something wrong (by Barb [MO]) Jan 17, 2019 9:51 AM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 17, 2019 11:41 AM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 17, 2019 12:20 PM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 17, 2019 12:35 PM
something wrong (by rentON [PA]) Jan 17, 2019 1:15 PM
something wrong (by small potatoes [NY]) Jan 17, 2019 1:20 PM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 17, 2019 1:58 PM
something wrong (by Hoosier [IN]) Jan 17, 2019 2:49 PM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 17, 2019 2:56 PM
something wrong (by RathdrumGal [ID]) Jan 17, 2019 6:35 PM
something wrong (by Steve [TN]) Jan 18, 2019 4:49 AM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 18, 2019 11:07 AM
something wrong (by Steve [TN]) Jan 18, 2019 11:16 AM
something wrong (by myob [GA]) Jan 18, 2019 12:05 PM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Jan 18, 2019 2:52 PM
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 9:12 AM
Message:
I am trying to figure out if it is just the slow time of year or if I am doing something wrong. I now have maybe two or three responses from my add. I have switched from calling and trying to prescreen over the phone to replying back to them through zillow ,assuming it is going to there email,with a short message and a list of prescreening question for them to answer before a showing. On the plus side I am no longer wasting time showing the house and them taking applications and then never getting back to me. On the other hand when I reply via email they do not reply back at all,so I don't know if they are screening there selves out or if it is too complicated for them. Any thoughts? I just want to make sure I am not doing something wrong.Thank you for your time. --73.120.xx.xxx |
something wrong (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 9:21 AM
Message:
6x6...Jan is still slow usually, but it'll start to pick up soon unless you live in an area with lots of snow/icy conditions.
For a lot of folks who move this time of year, it comes down to a question of available money.
Many people are broke and cannot come up with security and first month's rent, plus a moving van. They used to wait until tax refunds in mid to late Feb to move...so you'd get a big surge in March. Then along came "refund anticipation loans" and suddenly people started having money mid-January!
I wonder if the IRS being shut down has made refund loan providers skittish about making the loans, thinking that the refunds might be delayed indefinitely, and therefore they would not get paid? I don't know. Haven't looked into that aspect of the biz. --173.20.xxx.xxx |
something wrong (by RB [MI]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 9:23 AM
Message:
Welcome to the Jungle. --184.53.x.xxx |
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 9:44 AM
Message:
Thank you Sid and RB. I actually did not think about any IRS delays. I hate sitting on and heating this empty house. It is giving me time to do other things I need to work on though. --73.120.xx.xxx |
something wrong (by Barb [MO]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 9:51 AM
Message:
The other issue is with Zillow.
If you hit "Reply" to an email that originated with Zillow, it often goes to their SPAM and they think you ignored them.
If you go into the listing in Zillow and look for "Contacts" you can see who contacted you. Email them directly. I usually use the subject "Housing in MYTOWN". Let them know I received their email from Zillow/Trulia/ETC and that since replies often go to spam, I am emailing them directly. Direct them to my pre-showing survey and ask what questions they have.
If they fill out my pre-showing survey, we go from there. Occasionally I get a question not addressed in the ad. I address it, and include the link to my pre-showing survey again.
It is slow right now for me as well. It will pick up soon.
I think this is the first time in YEARS that I have had a January vacancy that wasn't filled by now. It is a strange year, and the weather is not helping. --64.251.xxx.xxx |
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 11:41 AM
Message:
Thank you Barb a whole lot for that information. I thought they just wern't replying back so I deleted there emails,OOPS. --73.120.xx.xxx |
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 12:20 PM
Message:
Barb, I went into my listing and can not find anywhere that says contacts or anywhere that shows any contact information of the sort. Thank you for your help. --73.120.xx.xxx |
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 12:35 PM
Message:
I found it. Had to go under edit my listing. --73.120.xx.xxx |
something wrong (by rentON [PA]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 1:15 PM
Message:
You may want to try an ad on craigslist if you already don't have one there. It does seem to be very market specific but you never know if you don't try. Good luck. --67.165.xx.xx |
something wrong (by small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 1:20 PM
Message:
the other issue with zillow is that the longer your listing is there the harder it is to find when people do a search. Zillow's default is to sort newest first. Sure you are still on a map if someone looks at your block, but your listing can drop back several pages. Some here have mentioned that you can edit your ad and make it pop up earlier in the search. This has not worked for me. And you can't delete and relist it a few days later because zillow remembers.
Most people who contact me through zillow, etc provide a phone number. I will text them from google vm page and direct them to my prescreening google form. I am getting less deadbeats because my ad and google vm say how much the minimum monthly income has to be (pay stub, benefit letter, etc). --24.194.xx.xx |
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 1:58 PM
Message:
Thank you RentOn,I actually have it listed on CL and have gotten almost zero responses (3-4). Thank you small Potatoes,I also have not been able to find a way to update on Zillow. I don't know what google vm is yet I havn't got that far yet. --73.120.xx.xxx |
something wrong (by Hoosier [IN]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 2:49 PM
Message:
Try spicing up the ad. Delete it and re-advertise at $5 lower with "REDUCED RENT" in the title. Offer one free upgrade if someone signs within 10 days. Experiment. --99.92.xxx.xxx |
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 2:56 PM
Message:
Thank you Hoosier, I think I might have a new prospect,I hope. --73.120.xx.xxx |
something wrong (by RathdrumGal [ID]) Posted on: Jan 17, 2019 6:35 PM
Message:
You will get a lot of marginally interested people with Zillow who just click the "Send more info" button. You will recognize them by the short, preformatted, consistent message. Don't get your hopes up when you get these messages. I send a preformatted email response, and ask them to contact me again if they believe they qualify and would like to attend an open house showing. Only 10% of the first clickers even respond to my second email. I just accept this as what happens when you advertise on Zillow.
Zillow is still much better than Craig's List in my market. --98.146.xxx.xxx |
something wrong (by Steve [TN]) Posted on: Jan 18, 2019 4:49 AM
Message:
6x6, generally, winter isn't that slow, depending on the type of rental you have. I get a lot of recent divorcees and divorces happen at all times of the year. Likewise, Knoxville has a lot of people moving to the area year round to take new jobs.
FWIW, my best source for tenants has always been a sign in the yard. Plus I offer neighbors $100 for a lead if I end up renting to their prospect.
What part of town is your rental in? You might not be priced right. You're more likely to be priced too low than too high, by the way. --68.156.xx.xx |
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 18, 2019 11:07 AM
Message:
Thank you all for the responses. Steve, when I look on zillow at other available rentals in the surrounding area they seem to be cheaper for the most part. I think it might be the area,the neighbor hood seems safe but looks run down. Would they not be lining up out the door if I was too cheep? They maybe screening there selves out? --73.120.xx.xxx |
something wrong (by Steve [TN]) Posted on: Jan 18, 2019 11:16 AM
Message:
You are just getting your feet wet, if I'm following you.
Despite all the advice from the big operators on here, I don't think you should avoid all the calls etc. Talk to all of them. You will find that some are nuts. Some are deadbeats. And a lot are just normal busy people. Most tenants aren't the scum of the earth. It might seem that way here on Mr. LL, but we mostly talk about the problems and not the good ones.
Get a feel for what you are doing and how these folks act. Some only want text. Some only want phone calls. Almost none want to fool with email. A phone call that goes to your voice mail is a missed opportunity for you.
Once you've been doing it a while and know what works for you and your rentals, then you can think about insulating yourself from your customers if you think that's a good idea. Until then, talk to them all. That's how you learn. --68.156.xx.xx |
something wrong (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Jan 18, 2019 12:05 PM
Message:
We made a fairly large profit this past month Jan and Dec just from applications. ALL deadbeats mind you but at 30.PP X's 5 apps a day-- we did good.
6X6 it's one of those "today you get 6 calls tomorrow 20". We change up the ads-- lower deposits to get apps-- but if apps are bad we up the deposit so it floats-- but at least we're getting apps in.
6X6 i'm not sure if you can check out court records in TN-- here we can for free-- so we do that first step-- then BK court records-- 99% of the time-- especially around Dec and beginning Jan these folks are trying to skip out-- and they're caught before we have to pay for formal credit check.
You should review what you were doing previously-- THAT WAS WORKING-- and go back in that direction.
I didn't read the other posts here because sometimes if you read them before posting it influences what you would really do. So apology if redo of other suggestions. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
something wrong (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jan 18, 2019 2:52 PM
Message:
Thank you Steve for the descriptive advice. I am afraid if I am answering the phone all of the time that I am going to end up with 15 million robo calls,how do you stop that? I need to figure out a way to send pre scripted text I just haven't had time for that yet but hopefully this weekend. Myob,thank you for your help.There are some court records I can get here i am pretty sure. The one problem I was having before was wasting a lot of time showing for nothing. Actually two problems, if you tell them on the phone that they are disqualified because they don't make enough, I have had a one want to argue, which of course helps rule them out. --73.120.xx.xxx |
Reply:
|
|