Resident Search
Posted on May 8, 2008 - Filed Under Business |
For Property #1, the front tenants have moved out. The search for new ones has been underway. This topic has been hashed and rehashed on this site.
Craigslist Ad
Part of Googles assimilation of my life entails using Google Docs. Each rental has its own “Craigslist” posting saved in a separate Google Doc. Rather handy. Rather than re-invent the ad, a simple “cut and paste” from my Google Docs into Craiglist and the ad is posted. Total time: 3 seconds.
Playing with Numbers
I decided to ask for a little more rent on the property. The price was bumped up $100 and a few phone calls came through. Somewhere (and I can’t remember where), this article explained that people perceive 21,999 to be less than 21,000 because of the zeros. The next time the Craiglist ad was run, the asking rent was decreased $25 to make it an odd number. Many more phone calls.
Time Management
Being stood up has become rather annoying. My schedule is hectic enough but to have people flake out on appointments has become irritating. My arrival time is usually 15 minutes before the appointment. Then wait for at least 30 minutes because in Los Angeles, traffic is problematic. Take into account the 15 minutes to drive to the house, 15 minutes to drive back, an hour of my day was wasted. Do this 3 or 4 times per week and it gets aggravating.
One 30-second phone call: Hi is this Cliff? Hi Cliff, this is Broomhilda and I was suppose to meet you today at 4 o’clock. Yeah I can’t make it. Sorry about that. Have a good day!
After my appointments this week, I’m going to setup a time whereas I will be at the property on a certain day for 1 hour. Come during that hour. Do this a few days a week.
Some people fail to understand that making appointments requires sacrifices on both parties. If a potential “lookie loo” can only meet at 1:15 on Wednesday and nothing else for the next week is open . . . then they probably aren’t that serious anyway. After all, if they only have 5 minutes to glance at a property before they “must” be someplace else then moving is not their highest priority.
If you liked that post, then try these...
Let go on June 12th, 2008
From the beginning .
Signing Off on August 14th, 2005
This will be my last communicae from Chez Cliff.
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2 Responses to “Resident Search”
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Oh man, I remember those kinds of appointments when I was renting my condo out. Very annoying. What I finally started doing was saying “Ok, call me when you are ready to leave and I’ll meet you there.” That improved things somewhat, but there were still no-shows.
@bluntmoney: A few friends sent emails yesterday, saying they do this exact style of “Open House” showing. Set up a block of time for 2 or 3 hours then hang out for people to come.
But why people can’t call to cancel is beyond me.