Limit rental exposure

In my market there’s a shortage of housing. So when a property is posted for rent landlords are inundated with inquiries. What’s an effective way to limit your advertising exposure? This is to limit the amount of Individuals that could see it’s available. Websites like For example Zillow will notify the universe a unit is available. --107.77.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 8:50 AM
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Enjoy your application fees! --174.240.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by Landlordsci [NY]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 8:54 AM
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I didn’t think of that. Thanks! --107.77.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by Ve [OH]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:10 AM
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Advertise high standards, and follow them. --184.59.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by Small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:38 AM
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OP, know that in NY you cannot charge more than 20 bucks total in the application process. That includes a background check. Search this site for Pre-screening and make that part of your process to thin the herd. What class rental do you have? Mine are C. --172.59.xxx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Mike [PA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:42 AM
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89% of the inquiries do not go past 'is it available'.

I wouldn't limit any exposure --24.115.xx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Jim [CA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:51 AM
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I use my local Factory instead of all the other sites to list my vacancies. I also look at the applicants profile to see if they show pictures of pets or wild parties where they live currently. --146.70.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by Jim [CA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:53 AM
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PS FACEBOOK NOT FACTORY --146.70.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by Simplify [NY]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:54 AM
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What Small potatoes [NY] said on pre-screening!

We've been using TenantTurner for about 6 months, it helps us a lot since it automates dealing with inquiries and scheduling. We limit showings to certain time slots and do group showings/open houses.

If you don't want to use a tool like TenantTurner, you could consider putting an open house date & time in the posting and state that further information and applications will be available only in person at the open house.

We no longer require an application to view the property, since it costs us $25 to run the background and credit checks but we can only collect $20 (and if they pay online, which is easier for all, we net $15). We do require an ID and a self-declared qualifying level of income to view units. --104.255.xx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by jonny [NY]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:59 AM
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Well, if you are in NY then you can't charge them "application fees" (you read that correctly, you need to change your term to "background fees" because you cannot just charge them to take the application). You can ONLY charge them for what cost YOU have incurred on processing the background checks with a MAX of $20 to be paid from the prospective tenant.

So if it costs you $30... you can charge them $20. If it costs you $10... you can charge them $10.

With that all said... Unless you are getting a ton of inquiries I wouldn't worry about it. Most of them just click on "is it availalbe" to see if anyone will even respond back. If you do... they usually won't respond back.

You'll be lucky if you get 3-5 viable prospectives to even want to show the apartment to.

Good luck. --69.201.xx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Landlordsci [NY]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 10:11 AM
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It’s a class B unit. --107.77.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 10:50 AM
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Either only put a sign in the front window/yard, or

Implement automated pre-screening --68.229.xxx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 10:53 AM
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You might also try targeted marketing, as our friend Jeffrey teaches.

Such as:

If there is a major employer in the area, try to see if you can find a way to advertise directly to their employees. Assuming you want employed applicants ; ). --68.229.xxx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 11:32 AM
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Will provide rental applications to all adults interested that eliminates problem tenants. Run thorough credit checks on all adults to completely eliminate the problem tenants who will out the private sector rental housing market. Three pieces of photo copied identification or they keep looking. Population in North America has increased where housing units have not. in the ad they know there will be a credit check where it is waste of time as the problem know what rental applications are used for. --207.236.xxx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 12:16 PM
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Somewhere far down in the ad, say "Please say something about yourself. I do not respond to "is it available" inquiries.

That way, you can discard a majority of the inquiries you receive and most of the people who haven't bothered to read the ad. --76.178.xxx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 12:22 PM
Message:

So many landlords try to market the place all over the place and they end up getting 100's of leads. You have the correct thought process. You don't need 100 leads you need only one qualified tenant.

I would check do as DJ and Jeffery say - visit your local HR office with a half dozen donuts and a small handful of fliers.

You can also consider offering a referral bonus for your current tenants in great standing who provide you a successful lead that results in a placement --24.101.xxx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Mike [PA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 12:40 PM
Message:

Maybe a small corner store u could post a rental but companies that pay well in general do not allow solicitation. Unless you know someone in a company that has an employee classifieds I don't see that as an avenue

--24.115.xx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Libi [NY]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 5:24 PM
Message:

Raise the rent and you will have less applicants. I am inviting everyone with standard email and time, convenient to me.

Something like: Thank you for your interest in "Your Address". You can see the unit at 5:30 pm Tuesday or 11:30 am Saturday. Please let us know what time works best to you.

Most of them will never answer. For the one, who replied, I send one more standard email with instruction to call 30 minutes before the viewing to confirm they are coming. Have $20 for the background and credit check for everyone older than 18 years old.

Most of them will not call. For the ones, who will come, I will show the place. I don't care if it will be more interesting parties or someone will not qualified. I am not spending extra time on them. --65.51.xxx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Mapleaf18 [NY]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:29 PM
Message:

I definitely would not put a sign out front as you are advertising the place for squatters and we all know New York state is squatter friendly.

Prequal is the way to go even in B class; it's a must for C class and below. I'm lucky to get one to two qualified inquiries out of 60 to 100 responses. --64.246.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by Landlordsci [NY]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 8:53 AM
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NY squatter friendly?!?! You have no clue*!! Squatters and con-artists are the primary reason I want to avoid broadcasting the availability. I went through a half dozen squatters in several properties during the pandemic. Calling them talented “professional tenants” would be an understatement. Their tactics and strategies were nothing shy of mesmerizing. Worse one was 4 years of squatting. Thanks for the feedback everyone. It’s appreciated. --107.77.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 11:02 AM
Message:

[[[[[.... Raise the rent and you will have less applicants.....]]]]]]

The deadbeats, evictees, squatters don't care how high the rent is. They don't intend to pay it, anyway. Those who can't balance their budget can't figure out that they can't afford it. All of those people will still try to apply and they all still have to be weeded out. --76.178.xxx.xxx

Limit rental exposure (by Small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Apr 12, 2024 12:42 AM
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For your B unit raise the rent. You should not be getting unqualified prospects. My one B property in another city attracts grad n med students and young professionals. A sign your market is detiorating is how far out prospects are looking to move. C is same /next month. B is 2 to 3 months out. Has the neighborhood changed? --67.240.xx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by Landlordsci [NY]) Posted on: Apr 12, 2024 8:32 AM
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Yes, it’s changed for the better. There’s been an Influx of people with higher income earnings over the past 4 years. Real estate sale prices have gone up. Fair market rents have gone up. Median family income has gone up. The number of new and newly renovated properties has gone up. Mine being one of those units. --107.77.xxx.xx

Limit rental exposure (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2024 1:15 AM
Message:

Landlordsci,

The only guard against squatters is install an alarm system. Catch them before they can squat.

Deadbolt AND locking knob. We use TRAP security head screws from LandlordLocks.com which require a special tip to remove the lock.

Tighten the secure features like put a screw in the window track so it cannot be raised. Padlock on the garage door track. 3" screws in the door strikeplate.

I WANT tons of apps because we need a BUNCH to find one good one. Plus they pay me $25 each.

We don't talk to anyone until we review their paid app.

And I agree, raise the price to reduce inquiries.

The internet has made inquiring much easier. we must adapt to the large flow of messages.

BRAD --73.103.xxx.xxx

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