doesn't want to see unit

A retired military prospect passed my screening and I went to arrange a showing. He is 2+ hours away and said the online pictures were enough for him. The only time I rented sight unseen was to foreign students. I thought for a sec that a career military guy has moved a thousand times and probably doesn't care. Other times the person at least has someone local who can take a look and do a video tour w/ the prospect. I have had out of towners drive by a place before I show it because I was certain they wouldn't like the area. I have been right every time. This unit is on a corner where cars jump the curb, lost tractor trailers get stuck and local kids stop and congregate as they walk to n from the convenience store. Do you let people rent sight unseen how has it turned out? --67.240.xx.xx

doesn't want to see unit (by DannyC [MO]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 2:02 PM
Message:

Yes I have done this a few times. The point is they passed your screening and you want to offer the home. That is their choice to not see it in my opinion. --107.77.xxx.xx

doesn't want to see unit (by melinda [MD]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 2:13 PM
Message:

We have done this several times.

It should be just fine.

--24.245.xx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 2:45 PM
Message:

Holding Fee time. Until you have that money in your account you keep advertising. If he fails to rent from you for ANY reason, it stays with you as liquidated damages.

I bill against the holding fee on a daily rate. If the daily rate is $30 per day and the Holding Fee is $500, then they move in 5 days later... $30 * 5 days = $150. I keep $150 as payment for my flexibility, and the remaining $350 goes toward the total move-in costs. If they fail to sign the lease, transfer utilities, and pay the remainder of the move-in costs within 7 days, then the rest is forfeit and I find someone else.

I don't trust people who only rely on pictures. They need skin in the game. What's I've learned over the years is yes, they do care, and they'll be sure to let you know and expect every penny back. Stay in control of your income.

--184.4.xx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by Hoosier [IN]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 3:09 PM
Message:

I like Sid's approach. I've had that happen twice. One time it worked out fine, the other time they said the photos were not an "accurate representation". Fortunately I had required a non-refundable holding fee and they were out $200. --99.92.xxx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by RB [TN]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 3:29 PM
Message:

Eyeball to eyeball. --24.183.xxx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by Larry [MN]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 3:41 PM
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I've rented to someone moving here from out of state sight unseen. Between Google Earth and photos it's not hard to get a feel for a place. --68.46.xx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by Still Learning [NH]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 3:58 PM
Message:

Only did it once to active military. It worked out. He was single and knew he would be here 1-3 years. He moved a lot so he wasn’t picky. Every other time there has been somebody that could see the property. --107.115.xxx.xx

doesn't want to see unit (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 4:01 PM
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II have not had good success renting without seeing. Mine have all been local and they couldn’t make time to see their new home. No see - no rent. --66.116.xx.xx

doesn't want to see unit (by Allym [NJ]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 5:04 PM
Message:

Did you tell him about the car accidents and kids hanging around? Yes, google earth is fine. I would take him. I wonder if he is too messed up to travel? --71.188.xx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 8:44 PM
Message:

Make sure that any utilities not included in rent are in the tenants name before he moves. Generally men are less critical of a rental unit or house where if he has girlfriend or wife then the standard must be higher. --68.69.xxx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 9:23 PM
Message:

I currently have tenants who moved here from NM - he's active duty Air Force.

While they didn't see it in person, they saw a video tour, photos, AND

We did a "live" virtual tour via video call. Have you tried that? --68.229.xxx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by Small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 9:32 PM
Message:

DannyC, just the pre-screening. Technically in NY I can't take a holding fee, just SD. I don't take a deposit unless I want to move forward, typically after I have their application pkg. Guess I was expecting a person moving just a couple of hours away would pass through and look at places. Allym, I have no reason to provide my thoughts on the block, it might not rent, lol. I always tell people that I don't live here so I can't say how it is. --172.59.xx.x

doesn't want to see unit (by MAT [PA]) Posted on: Mar 7, 2023 11:02 PM
Message:

Never rented sight unseen, and would be extremely reluctant to do so. What if they don’t like the smell, or they’re not comfortable with the neighborhood, or any one of a hundred other things you can’t see in pictures. I want them to find that out before they move in, not after. You can say “not my problem, shoulda come visited” all you want, but you still have an unhappy tenant on your hands which makes everyone’s lives just a little less fun. --173.49.xx.xx

doesn't want to see unit (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Mar 8, 2023 8:10 AM
Message:

Small potatoes... okay, can't take a holding fee? Fine... call it something else. Call it a convenience fee like all the other retailers have, or a pre-leasing fee, a reservation fee, or for lack of anything else, call it "Small potatoes is selling you time in exchange for money" fee.

Stupid state laws. Interfering with the private market just makes things worse for everyone. Why would any sane landlord lock up their property for days or weeks with nothing more than a deposit they have to refund if the tenant decides they don't want the property?

If you truly can't charge anything at all, then I'd tell him sorry, but the state legislature has made it impossible for me to accommodate your request. Be sure to thank them. If it's still available when you show up, I'll rent it to you, but meanwhile anyone else who is approved and shows up with money first wins.

Then move on. --184.4.xx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by Wilma [PA]) Posted on: Mar 8, 2023 9:13 AM
Message:

I find it odd that a military applicant would pass on seeing the place in person. I haven't had any military applicants in a while, as the two local air bases closed down. But when I had them, part of the transfer process was that they were allowed time and a military flight to go where they were being transferred for several days, in order to both find housing and meet with the person who was vacating the position that they were taking.

That said, military people have seen it all, in terms of housing. Perhaps this person does not have family, and thus is not fussy about where he lives? (I have an ex-Marine who was moving to town to be close to his failing parents. He could only see the place on short notice, and the tenant with kids had no chance to clean up, but agreed to the showing. When I told him that, his was response was that he knew a good place when he saw one, and that stepping around Legos and Barbies wouldn't put him off. We're on year 9 now, my favorite low-drama, low-demand tenant ever.) --96.245.xx.xx

doesn't want to see unit (by jonny [NY]) Posted on: Mar 8, 2023 10:46 AM
Message:

Small ... when is it available vs when is he going to move in? I would still do the Hold Fee - I don't deduct anything from it... mine states that it is a FEE until they've taken possession of the property (with details of what they need to do with a "to be done by" date), etc. If they agree and pay that amount and do what is stated and by WHEN... then the amount will be credited as part of their move in costs. If they do not... then it stays as a fee.

If you are "ok" with them moving in then fine. If this person is military, then they may be fine. They (usually) can do a "walk down the street" with Google unless it isn't available in that area/street.

Sometimes they are not "happy" about it once they get there but most will deal with it until they are either moved again or find another place. Skin in the game is something they need to have as well though (in my opinion). --69.201.xx.xxx

doesn't want to see unit (by small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Mar 8, 2023 1:09 PM
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I'm not holding anything for any length of time, I take down the listing when I receive the SD. I do tell them that if I decide to move forward and they back out I keep their funds to compensate for lost opportunity and if I decide not to move forward I return them. No mention of 'fees'. --67.240.xx.xx

doesn't want to see unit (by Oreo [WI]) Posted on: Mar 9, 2023 10:21 PM
Message:

Small what you do with the SD sounds fair to me and it abides by your laws so I'd do that.

Have rented units sight unseen many times. Medical students from far away, teacher from CA, Residents who couldn't come from out of the country. I would be hesitant in this day and age, but with exuberant screening, him being military and he wants it, I might chance it again. And you'll have the SD. --75.11.xx.xx

doesn't want to see unit (by Phil [OR]) Posted on: Mar 12, 2023 6:14 AM
Message:

We have rented sight unseen many times. We send pictures, ask if they have a friend / coworker that can view it....never had a problem.

The only problem we had at move-in was with a lady that SAW the house, looked all through it, and at check in decided that it was too small (she was moving out of a 2800 sq ft house to a 1500). Lease was signed and deposit was made prior to checkin.... Ended up in court to get her to pay the rent until we had a new tenant--we prevailed. --76.138.xxx.xxx

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