Do you realize an applicant won't be putting in the application? 24 hours and no application submitted? I have had a run of "crazies" and drama laden applicants that would be chomping at the bit to move into my lovely vacancy. And destroy it/have the police there every minute of the day which would chase away any good tenants in the area (one bad apple).

I had one couple apply, they already live together at a complex, passed the prequal, did the tour yesterday morning, seemed interested, liked the number of windows but asked about a back yard (there's really only a front yard). The backyard question surprised me since most young people these days are "indoorsy." They have one small dog, no children. Sent them the link to the application.

I very rarely get an application back from those who are going to "fill one out later".

6x6 I abandoned paper applications a long time ago. In this market, only the dregs request paper applications.

Just had another inquiry 15 min ago. Yet another woman separating from abusive husband with kids, terrible credit score, no previous LL experience. Living with one her ex's relatives.

At what point,

I enjoy fishing.....and marketing is so much like fishing.

If the fish are not biting using one kind of bait, then change things up with a different bait. If they are still not hitting, then change to a different spot.

I have blamed the fish before, but that doesn't yield ANY results - only made me feel better.

Ken, Young people don't like writing. They like texting and keyboarding. They can barely write cursive if at all. That's why I don't have paper apps. They would still need to submit their banking, employment etc paperwork.

They do everything on their phones. They just need to simply take a photo and upload their documents. I'm marketing upwardly mobiles who, again, do everything on their phone. As far as fishing goes, let's see, this is the first minimum qualifications to get a tour in 59 responses so far.

Ray, Obviously I don't wait on a specific applicant because I still have the ads going, etc.

My next step is to contact the nearby gaming casino place and market to their employees. I already have an inside person at the local medical facility that distributes my flyers.

As a comparison, my star tenants completed their applications within 6 hours of the tour.

I guess it is NEXT!

Many people, applicants, have fears of submitting an application to rent. Rejection, giving out personal information such as a social security number and other things too. So It's my job/responsibility to turn on my "charm" and ease any tensions.

Very nearly every good tenant I've ever had will stand there and fill out the application and pay the application fee at the same time that they do the tour. They arrive with cash to pay the fee and they have all of the information they need to fill out the application. They are carrying it with them, all prepared to act fast and fill out the application.

I ended this problem and waste of my time YEARS ago.

We show good pics and a walkthru video online,

and START with their application,

NOT a showing.

Mike Butler charges $25? for the blank app form.

Wait a minute.

Mike Butler was also the guy who gave a presentation in front of a room full of investors at the Convention several years ago and said, "Never take a deal you wouldn't sign your grandmother up for." Then about an hour later he was talking about one of his strategies (I forget which one) that seemed a bit sketchy, and one of the attendees said, "Would you sign up your grandmother for that one?" The whole room heard it.

He laughed it off, didn't answer, and went on with his presentation.

I'm not saying Butler's got nothing to offer, but he definitely has some... "interesting" strategies. Enough to make his squirm a little when pressed.

Do what you gotta do, but at the end of the day you've got to be able to go to sleep at night.

As for me, I send them the link, and unless they apply I don't give it or them a second though. Interested people will apply. Looky-loos and tire kickers are just there to waste time.

Ken, the showing is strictly for that purpose only after they've been pre-screened. At the showing I explain the application process and tell them I'll send a cash app request for the app fees and upon receipt, I'll send the application. As part of the process, they need to provide me certain documents that they just upload into the form. For me, this just organizes the process better. I hate paper because I'm prone to lose it and time and money is burnt up trying to account for it,so I do things to eliminate it. This sets up a situation where I'm untethered to a desk or particular place and I often review apps on my phone. I have everything set up (leases, mortgage docs and etc.) paperless and accessible with my phone, laptop or desktop. I find most of the tenants seem to prefer operating this way and are accustomed to other businesses they interact with functioning this way. It would be hard for me to work any other way.

One of my physicians uses a portal to set appointments, post test results and etc. I love this. Whenever I go to him, the nurse wants to print an after visit summary and hand to me. I refuse it and insist that everything go into the patient portal.

Gkarl, what program(s) or systems(s) do you use for all of your online stuff?

I am using PDFfiller for the apps and leases. Then I have a link on my website they can use for the app.

Thanks for the info. Been switching over to the Google stuff for a bit now.

Will look into Adobe to see if it is comparable to PDFfiller.

Very interesting.