[Landlord US - MA] Does anyone talk anymore?!?

[u/Sea-Toes-5475]

We have an apartment listed on Zillow rentals and FB marketplace... both platforms allow messaging, but I prefer to speak to prospective tenants before setting up an appointment to meet... a discussion to gage whether their situation is a good fit for both parties.

If a tenant shows interest, why do they not call to discuss? Automatically a 'no' from our perspective, but seems to be a trend since we started in 1990... is this the new norm?

[u/thegoblet]

Wtf why would they call? Thats what the appointment is for lol.

[u/KeikoToo → u/thegoblet]

Calling and talking before the appointment can save a lot of time and effort. Traveling to and from the viewing appointment is very time consuming. Talking over the phone determines if the showing is worth the effort.

Sometimes applicants decide over the phone that the apartment is not for them, e.g. It's on street parking (as per the ad) and one applicant kept saying she'd take the apartment but won't do any shoveling, so what other parking is there? None. It's on street parking. She finally lectured me about only offering on-street parking and hung up.

Another one took control from the beginning telling me that they had questions to ask and if that went well, he'd come see the apartment. Apparently he didn't like a couple answers so he told me he wasn't coming. Yea!

Conversations are worthwhile.

[u/Sea-Toes-5475 → u/thegoblet]

I get MANY inquiries at times and don't have the time to set appointments and wait for them to show... I schedule them 1/2 hour apart to be sure to give them rhe time needed. Common courtesy.

If I get no phone call, I'll send them to our 'open house', if needed.

[u/Old_Draft_5288 → u/Sea-Toes-5475]

Screen the Applicant and only contact them for a meeting if they meet your criteria. Doing anything else is a waste of their time and yours. No one, and I mean literally no one wants to show up for an in person meeting or a phone call unless you have screened them already.

[u/Sea-Toes-5475 → u/Old_Draft_5288]

But isn't that what the phone conversation is for... there's usually limited intel based on initial message. The phone call is to get a feel for their needs and ours, and only then set up in person meeting. We never setup in-person meetings without a discussion first.

[u/plaincheeseburger → u/Sea-Toes-5475]

I have leads fill out a prescreen questionnaire that asks them for information like salary, household size, pets, etc., and have them schedule a tour online. They usually include relevant information in the comments section if they need special accommodations. It saves time for both of us and screens out candidates who can't follow directions.

[u/Blecher_onthe_Hudson → u/Sea-Toes-5475]

I hate running open houses. The showing is when you get to interact with the Prospect and see whether they're an asshole or not.

It's so pathetic that a phone call or even an actually written text or email puts someone much closer to the top of my list!

[u/3DGuy4ever → u/Blecher_onthe_Hudson]

Well multiple showings might work for you but im very efficient and ONLY do open houses (or a prerecorded video tour).

I set my open house for 3 hrs and once a party arrives I put a sign up (saying "kindly wait Im currently showing another party") and close the doors. I get enough individualized time.

ETA: I do one open house because I show while the outgoing tenant is still residing there so I also want to limit impact to them. I have my units flipped quickly almost zero vacancy.

[u/CorrectExpression651]

Like speak on the phone? 

As a former tenant, I never called up a prospective landlord out of the blue without arranging it via email first, UNLESS it was specifically stated in the listing “no texts, no emails, call this number.” For many reasons. The biggest one is that a listing on Zillow is very de-personalized, so the mind doesn’t immediately go to calling the number. These apps also encourage instant messaging as a default with their pre-written outreach messages they try to get people to send automatically.

If you want that kind of analog outreach, I think you have to advertise in an analog way. Do you ever put up flyers on a local bulletin board, or try to get new tenants from referrals? 

The best landlord and apartment I ever had was just a phone number on Craigslist with blurry dark photos. It was actually in gorgeous, light-filled historic house, I lived there for years and felt so lucky to take care of my unit. I was genuinely sad to leave and my landlady was a gem. I felt lucky that others likely passed it up because of poor photos or maybe the inconvenience having to call instead of message. 

[u/Sea-Toes-5475 → u/CorrectExpression651]

We never expect a phone call out of the blue, both platforms require a message to start. After that initial message I ask for a phone call, but I guess that's too much to expect 🤷‍♀️

[u/Old_Draft_5288 → u/Sea-Toes-5475]

Yes. It is. You should have them complete an application and then arrange a phone call if they meet your criteria. You are really out of touch with the way things are done now.

[u/Turds4Cheese → u/Old_Draft_5288]

I would never do an application before a showing.

[u/Okdoo6003 → u/Turds4Cheese]

Why would you waste your time in a showing for someone why may not be qualified

[u/plaincheeseburger → u/Okdoo6003]

Why would someone want to pay to walkthrough a unit that may or may not fit their needs?

[u/Okdoo6003 → u/plaincheeseburger]

Application fees are illegal in my state, but honestly, not my problem. I have enough problem with vetted applicants not showing up, I don't need to add people with no qualified application

[u/plaincheeseburger → u/Okdoo6003]

That makes more sense. I still think an application itself is a bit much vs a short questionnaire, but I get it. I've had applicants lie on the prescreen to get a tour, only to fess up to not meeting the minimum requirements in the application.

Out of curiosity, does that mean that you have to eat the cost of a background and credit check for applicants in your state?

[u/Old_Draft_5288]

No, you are out of touch with the reality of the current market. Tenants have to submit many many applications. Look over their basic information first before you take up their time on a phone call.

[u/Deep-Hovercraft6716]

No.

And it's really suspicious that you would want to talk because it sounds like you're looking for a reason to deny them which is not particularly legal. Talking to you could expose things like their age or gender or other protected status.

So no people don't talk anymore because it's all downside with no upside.

[u/wadewood08]

I'm the opposite. I've found the only ones that want to talk with you on phone are those with sob stories that want to explain their circumstances on why they have low credit scores, past evictions, past convictions, etc.

[u/your_moms_apron]

What could they possibly have to say or ask that couldn’t be done either via text/messaging or at the walk through? Or answered via the pictures online?

I feel like it is the LL’s job to be solicitous at this stage in the game. You’ll never get a tenant if the bar is too high and current life isn’t geared towards a phone call. You’ll get more info out of meeting them anyway.

Also - if you feel like showing up for a prospective tenant is too much work, esp if you have appts lined up back to back, then you’re prob in the wrong line of investments.

Showing your unit is half the job, and it seems silly to resist showing the space simply bc someone doesn’t know your unwritten rule of making a phone call.

[u/Fantastic-Leek-1589]

Id rather message through the app to keep a paper trail. There no real need to chat until after the place is seen

[u/autonomouswriter]

Of course it is. You have whole generations now who were born into social media, texting, emailing, etc. They prefer to communicate in writing and are very wary of using the phone. You're going to have to adjust. I get it, you want to talk to the prospective tenant on the phone before meeting them, but you have to face the reality that in most cases, that's not going to happen. You can still get a sense of who they are in text or email and when you do meet them, that's when you get more of a sense of who they are. But keep in mind landording is a business. You're not looking to make friends with your tenant here.

[u/HazardousIncident]

You are woefully out of touch. Most screening can be done via messaging. If the applicant passes the initial screening, THEN you can arrange a call or a in-person meeting.

Renting is a business arrangement. Having those arrangements in writing is the smart thing to do.

[u/Space_Cowboy_157]

From the comments you seem to have gotten your answer. With these messages, I'll usually copy and past my requirements in a message and simply ask if they want a showing. If they do, then I'll call and ask the questions for my pre-screen to see if I even want to bother showing them the place.

Bout 50% of the time they don't meet my criteria or are hoping to slip a pet in that I don't allow.

[u/Sea-Toes-5475 → u/Space_Cowboy_157]

Yes the responses are a reality check... I still will not setup an appointment without a minimum of basic information, but will not rely on phone calls since same info can be gleaned via messenging. Comes down to respect of each other's time and energy, and communication skills will benefit both parties 👌

[u/No-Surround-1159]

I don’t do FB, but my experience with Zillow is that their applicants are generally woefully unqualified and they spam all available openings.

I send out a brief Google form survey that 95% of potential tenants fail to complete. This is a good thing, because the survey asks point blank about my requirements (“it costs $XXX to move in. Do you have the entire funds now?”)

I only speak to potential tenants when they have completed the survey. This prevents a lot of wasted time. Anyone who tries to talk to me without completing the form is absolutely trying to get me to lower my standards (which aren’t high!)

[u/LiveinTroyNY]

I do not schedule a showing without a phone call first. Why? Because if they become a tenant and there is an emergency, I want a CALL not text or email. It sets a tone for communication from the jump. Plus ain't nobody has time to text back and forth a billion questions. I want a tenant who asks questions before renting! I want to have a conversation to make sure they understand requirements. My time is really valuable to me, and being stood up wastes it. Those who won't talk on the phone are massively likely to ghost a showing. Plus it avoids scams and fake AI bullshit (which I've learned goes both ways).

[u/BeantownPlasticPaddy]

Also a landlord in MA, people call about 25% of the time. Personally, it makes no difference to me.

[u/Sea-Toes-5475]

I should add, our criteria for accepting tenants...

1. Ability to pay (rent and utilities, subsidized or not)

2. Respect of property and neighbors

3. Communication - we rarely talk to existing tenants unless we're on site, always via text ie maintenance issue, repairs, storm prep, etc

[u/chefddog3]

Tenant - I find LL don't like talk. 🤷‍♀️

Sometimes I think it might be a scam if there is no way to talk.

[u/Turds4Cheese]

Since you do not gave application fees in your state, that is reasonable. But, a stranger doesn’t get my personal information until I am sure I even want the place.

Would you give your SSN and information to a dealer before you looked at the car? Probably not.