Showing Your Vacant Rental, But No Lease Yet?

By E-Renter Tenant Screening
Posted on March 4, 2011 under Landlord Tips | Be the First to Comment

Sometimes landlords simply can’t fill a vacancy, despite market data that shows vacancies are low and would-be renters are finding it hard to find a place to live. Have you ever had a vacancy that should have been filled, but after many showings you have no bites?

Consider these reasons you’re having trouble filling a vacant rental:

Price: Have you checked the rents in your area lately? Perhaps yours is just too high for the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and amenities your rental property offers. Do your homework and adjust the rent if you have to. Try rentometer.com to compare your rent to others in your city—and even in your neighborhood.

Location: Is your rental property too far from public transportation and shopping? While there’s not much you can do to make a poor location better, you can promote other advantages of the location. Is there a park or walking and biking trail nearby? Is it a walkable neighborhood? What about a neighborhood market? Think about other factors you can educate potential tenants about. What would make you want to live there? And don’t expect the location to sell itself—that’s your job!

Utilities: Most tenants want cable and high-speed internet. Wireless is even better. If you don’t offer the latest and greatest technology, you could be losing tenants for that reason alone. Inquire with your cable and internet service providers to see what they can do to upgrade your property and bring it into the 21st century!

Looks: Take a hard view at how your rental looks from the outside and the inside.

• Does it look inviting?
• Are there dead shrubs outside and broken window blinds inside?
• Does it need a paint job?
• Are carpets worn out?
• Do the fixtures and lighting need an upgrade?
• If it’s been awhile since you spruced up the place, it could be costing you money as potential tenants turn it down.

Finally, when you’re showing the unit, ask potential tenants if they can picture themselves living there. It doesn’t hurt to find out what they’re thinking, and you’ll learn very valuable information. If they offer an objection, find a way to overcome it—and fill that vacancy!