Self-showing services are meant to offer convenience to landlords and tenants. However, prospective tenants having the ability to view properties on their own leaves plenty of important questions unanswered due to the absence of the landlord on-site. Property management companies that seek to use these services should be well informed and understand that using them can add more problems when showing rentals than they solve.
The appeal for property management companies is that it allows more properties to be shown, saves the property management company from having to schedule appointments, wear and tear on their vehicles and allows the property to be shown at any time, not dependant on the listing agent availability which can save the property management company significant time and money. This can be great for the Landlord because there are many more eyes and the potential for unlimited traffic through the property.
The idea behind self-showing is simple enough. The landlord installs a lockbox at their property when they list it for rent, with a key for the main entrance door inside the lockbox. These are smart lockboxes that can read input from mobile devices and allows the prospective renter to enter the property unaccompanied.
Prospective tenants can schedule a time for inspection through the website. When they arrive at the property, they simply scan their mobile to the lockbox and enter a code into the lockbox that they receive on the spot. This opens up the lockbox and tenants can take a tour of the property. Once they are finished, they place the key inside the box and lock it again.Users are required to submit their credit card information and a fee before they can tour the property. The card can be charged for any damages to the property during the self-guided tour.
There are real practical problems that users can experience with the self-showing approach.
There is a lot of room for improvement in the self-showing method. If the risks can be addressed, it may become a good method for touring rental properties.As things stand right now, it is not always a practical solution for property management companies and landlords that want an effective showing solution.
V.A.R. Group, LLC property management serves Dallas and surrounding areas. We specialize in assisting out of state investors and those that no longer wish to self manage their properties . . .
Valerie Alfred Realty Group, LLC
Mail or Drop off payments at:
1400 Preston Rd Suite 400 Plano, TX 75093
(be sure your payment is in an envelope w/ your property address, name and our company name written on the front)
214-771-6719 Fax & Phone
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