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The best way to attract a quality tenant at your showing is by representing yourself as a high-quality landlord. Demonstrating your organizational skills, providing clear information, and presenting a clean property will show potential tenants that you are a landlord they want to rent from.
To help you achieve this, we outlined 12 tips to showing your rental property to consider when meeting with prospective tenants.
1. Write a Thorough Listing
The first step in attracting quality tenants at your showing is actually getting them to a showing. To do this, you’ll need a catchy, well-written, and descriptive listing with great photos to impress quality renters and get them interested in viewing your property. Also make sure that any directions to your property are clear and easy to follow.
2. Schedule Individual Property Showings
Landlords commonly believe that scheduling an open house is the best way to market their unit and save time. However, open houses can end up hurting your rental process, instead of helping it.
When you schedule a single time slot for an open house, this can automatically disqualify potential tenants who cannot make it to the showing. What you should do instead is prioritize meeting and screening tenants based on interest. If someone reaches out for a showing and schedules it right away, it’s a good sign that he or she is highly interested. Open houses don’t take that into account.
3. Consider Timing
Think of your property’s best features. Is there great natural light, a spacious yard, or city skyline views? Schedule your showing for the time of day when the property’s best selling points stand out the most. If that’s during the daytime, stick to the weekend; for evening or night showings, choose a weeknight.
Check if there is any construction or renovation planned in the area or building and make sure to avoid those times. Be mindful of maintenance and cleaning schedules; if you know building common areas are vacuumed on Tuesdays, consider Tuesday evening for your showing.
4. Have All Relevant Paperwork Handy
We highly recommend using online applications and leases, so you don’t have to worry about having applications filled out or leases signed at a showing.
You absolutely should still have a print or mobile copy of all application, background, credit, and lease forms handy at the showing. Savvy tenants may ask specifically about the application or lease protocol. You want to be prepared to answer any questions and show them the paperwork that will be expected of them. This gives you a chance to address any questions, concerns, or objections to your application or lease terms up front and shows tenants you’re on top of things.
5. Create Handouts
Demonstrate how organized you are by giving prospective tenants all the relevant facts about your rental property on a handout. Having a thorough handout means tenants have fewer questions and allows you to give them more personal space during the showing — less stress for you, and more inviting for them.
Handouts also provide potential renters a solid take-home piece so they don’t forget the important details, and don’t forget about your property. Your handout should contain all relevant information about your property: lease start date, move-in and move-out fees, security and pet deposits, building rules and policies, and a clear list of what is included in rent.
6. Know All Area Amenities
Even if you or your previous tenants didn’t have pets, children, or cars, future potential tenants might. Research all area amenities so you’re not caught off-guard by specific questions. Quality tenants will definitely be turned off by a landlord who doesn’t have a solid understanding of the neighborhood.
Consider creating short supplemental handouts for people with pets (nearby dog parks, local vets, pet stores, dog walking services), young children (local schools, playgrounds, parks, daycares), and cars or bicycles (parking/storage options and costs). Even if you do not provide written information, you should be able to speak intelligently about local amenities.
7. Decide on Tenant Criteria Beforehand
Quality tenants will expect you to know what you’re looking for in a tenant at the showing. Don’t be caught unprepared for questions about smoking, pets, cosigners, minimum monthly income, credit score, etc.
You need to think through all of your tenant criteria before the showing and know what you will and will not accept. Having your criteria laid out will — and even adding rules to your handout — also helps protect you from accusations of discrimination. Just remember to check your state and local laws to make sure you aren’t adding illegal requirements or restrictions.
8. Keep a Flexible Schedule
When renting your rental property and scheduling property showings, you’ll need to be flexible with meeting times. Most tenants will only be able to see the property after work hours or on the weekend.
While your schedule should be flexible in order to meet interested tenants, you should not be flexible about people being late, within reason.
9. Communicate with Current Tenants
Showings require additional planning and preparation if the apartment is currently occupied. Discuss the potential showing times with the current tenants at least a week in advance. Give plenty of notice and be respectful of tenants’ schedule and plans. It’s better for both you and the tenant to avoid any showings while your tenants have out-of-town guests or the day after hosting a party.
Quality tenants will be turned off by a messy apartment, so kindly ask your current tenants to clean up. Set the expectation that you may tidy up the apartment yourself or with a cleaning crew (make their beds, use their vacuum) and that potential tenants will be looking inside closets and cabinets.
10. Fix, Stage, and Clean
Make sure any maintenance issues in the apartment are addressed before the showing and all appliances are working properly. Even seemingly minor issues, like one leaky faucet or a loose doorknob, can raise concerns in quality tenants. You want to put your best foot forward and show you are an attentive, responsive landlord.
If your property is not occupied, consider staging. Empty rooms appear much smaller than those with furniture, and you want prospective tenants to visualize the space. It should go without saying, but make sure your property is clean before any showing.
If you the unit is occupied, arrive 30 to 60 minutes before your first appointment to prepare. Open windows for some fresh air, take out the trash, vacuum, wipe down windows and counters, and pick up any loose items. You should turn on all lights (bring a few spare light bulbs) and open all blinds for showings.
11. Soft Sell
You’ve diligently prepared and carefully organized everything in your rental property. The current tenants are out for a couple hours, and the property is clean and in great shape. When the prospective tenants arrive, don’t hover over them; it will only make them uncomfortable and won’t give them space to take in the unit. Chime in with interesting details and focus on the best features of your property.
Give personal space while hanging nearby to answer any questions. Instruct them on what next steps would look like and how to apply for the unit in a relaxed way. If you seem desperate or overzealous, potential tenants will be turned off. Be confident and relaxed, and let your property speak for itself.
12. Final Tips on Showing a Property
- How you present yourself makes an impression on prospective tenants too. Take a little extra time to dress up, be prepared with handouts, and always be early for showings.
- Don’t forget the outside of the building. Make sure shrubs are trimmed and that there’s no trash on the lawn or overflowing garbage bins in the alley.
- Be consistent with what you show prospective tenants, and the questions you ask them, to avoid accusations of discrimination. For example, even if someone is in a wheelchair, you still need to show them the recreational areas.
- Also, avoid saying a prospective tenant will “fit in” with the demographic of current residents; this could come off as stereotyping or discrimination.
- It’s good to have a rental application, credit check authorization forms, and other documents on hand, but if you use an app like Avail, you can just ask for a prospect’s email address. You’ll log in later and send them the next steps online, simplifying and speeding up the application process.
For even more tips, check out our ultimate resource on rental property showings, including how to stage your unit.
Learn More about How Avail Helps DIY Landlords
Once you find quality tenants for your unit, it’s time to think about how you’ll effectively manage them. From maintenance requests to rent collection, being a successful landlord is hard work. Avail is here to help landlords post listings across the web, collect rent online, manage maintenance requests, and so much more. Create an account today to begin leveraging landlord software to grow your rental business.
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]]>The post What to Know About the Chicago Landlord Tenant Ordinance appeared first on Avail.
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If you are a landlord in the city of Chicago, knowing the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance is a must. In effect since 1986, this ordinance outlines many of the cities regulations regarding the relationship between a landlord and a tenant. Being familiar with these rules is tantamount to being a good landlord in the Windy City and can help mitigate most potential disputes you may have with a tenant.
Not only is the Chicago Landlord Tenant Ordinance ubiquitous in any landlord-tenant relationship, a summary of the ordinance, by law, must be attached to the lease. Make sure your tenant reads through the summary so when there is a dispute, they are fully aware of the regulations they agreed to.
Here is a brief summary of the ordinance and the most important points you should know as a landlord.
What Rental Units are Covered by the Ordinance
Almost all rental units in Chicago covered by a written or oral lease are under the jurisdiction of the ordinance, including subsidized housing. There are, however, a few exceptions:
- Units in a building the owner occupies with six or fewer units.
- Hotels, motels and rooming houses (private houses where rooms are rented for living or staying temporarily), unless the tenant pays rent on a monthly basis and the unit is occupied for over 32 days.
- School dormitories, shelters, employees’ quarters and non-residential rental properties.
- Co-ops and condominium that the owner occupies.
The Landlord’s Responsibilities Under the Ordinance
There is a long laundry list of duties required of the landlord as part of the ordinance. Here are some of the most important ones. Consult the full ordinance for the full list of responsibilities.
- Landlords must give the tenants a written notice of the owner’s or manager’s name, address and telephone number.
- The landlord must give new or renewing tenants a notice of code violations issued by the city in the previous year, pending Housing Court hearings, and water, electricity or gas shutoffs that will occur during the tenant’s stay.
- The landlord cannot require a renter to renew a lease more than 90 days prior to the end of the current lease.
- Landlords must give tenants 30 days written notice if the lease will not be renewed. If the landlord fails to do this, the tenant can stay in the property for 60 days after the lease ends under the same terms and conditions of the previous lease.
- The landlord must maintain the property in compliance with municipal codes.
The Tenant’s Responsibilities Under the Ordinance
Here are a few of the important duties a tenant must perform while residing in the property:
- The tenant must purchase and install working batteries in all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in the unit.
- The tenant must keep the unit safe and clean. This is a rather vague provision and up to the discretion of the landlord.
- The tenant must use all equipment and facilities in a reasonable manner.
- The tenant must not deliberately or negligently damage the property.
- The tenant must not disturb other residents.
The Landlord has a Right to Access the Unit
According to the ordinance, a tenant needs to allow any reasonable access to the landlord or property manager with a two-day notice. This can be given by phone, mail, written notice or any other “good faith” means of communication.
If a landlord is repairing a common area, they may give notice to the residents affected by the repairs. If there is an emergency or the landlord’s repairs elsewhere require access to the unit, the landlord must give a notice within two days of entry.
These are important provisions that both ensure the privacy rights of the tenant and the landlord’s right to access his or her property for essential maintenance. Both parties should be fully aware of these rules to avoid confrontations.
Security Deposits and Prepaid Rent
- The landlord must give a tenant a receipt for the amount of the security deposit. The tenant must sign the receipt in order for the deposit to be in compliance with the ordinance.
- The landlord must hold the security deposit in a federally insured interest-bearing account in a financial institution located in the state of Illinois. The landlord is required to pay interest on all prepaid rent and security deposits held more than six months. The rate of interest is set each year by the City Comptroller.
- The security deposit amounts must be returned to the tenant minus deductions for damages to the property and unpaid rent within 45 days after the tenant’s lease ends. If there is a fire, the landlord must return the security deposit within seven days of notice from the tenant that they are terminating their lease agreement.
Attorney Fees in Cases of Eviction
If a landlord successfully evicts a tenant they have the right to seek compensation from the tenant for their legal fees. Evicting a tenant can be timely and expensive, and it usually requires a lawyer. Fortunately for landlords, the ordinance has a provision allowing them to sue for all legal fees involved in the eviction process.
Late Fees
If a tenant does not pay the rent on time, the landlord can charge a $10 fee for the first $500 and a 5% fee for the remaining portion of the rent over $500. This means that a tenant with a $500 rent must pay $10 while a tenant with a $1000 rent must pay $35.
There are many more important rules and stipulations located in the full version of the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance that are very important to understand if you are renting property in the city. Be sure to do your homework and remain in compliance to avoid problems with both the city and your tenants.
Make Renting Easier With Avail
The job of a landlord is not always easy. Keeping up with ordinances, maintenance requests, and collecting rent can be draining. Fortunately, Avail provides online software that can assist you in some of the most tedious aspects of managing properties.
Avail gives you a platform to screen tenants, get receive rent payments online and automatically list properties. Learn more about what Avail can do for you. Signing up is easy and hassle free!
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Vacancies often breed anxiety among landlords. The desire to fill a unit quickly can sometimes get in the way of finding a good tenant. However, this could be a costly mistake that can lead to missed payments or a damaged property.
In order to avoid problems caused by tenants, it is extremely important to closely analyze different factors throughout the tenant screening process. Here’s what you should look for in a rental application as you screen a tenant.
Important Disclaimer on Tenant Screening
While it’s important to have a standard screening process to find the right tenants, there are laws against rental discrimination. A landlord cannot legally deny housing to someone based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. In some cities, this also includes a criminal record.
Be aware of your local landlord-tenant laws, because you can land in serious legal trouble if you violate them.
8 Things to Look Out For When Screening Rental Applications
Finding a good tenant used to be a daunting task. But now with property management software that includes tenant screening reporting, it’s now easier than ever to fill your property. Once you begin the rental applications process, here are a few factors to consider as a landlord:
1. Credit Score
Landlords commonly look at credit scores to determine whether or not a tenant will likely pay rent on time. A tenant’s credit report will show you their overall credit score, current debts, and payment history. While a credit score can provide visibility as to how reliable an applicant is towards borrowing credit, it’s important to look at various factors of their credit report.
Younger tenants may not have a credit score or much credit, and others with less-than-ideal credit scores are often willing to take extra steps to prove they are and will continue to be a reliable tenant who can pay the rent.
2. Background and Eviction Checks
Like a credit score, background and eviction checks are other common steps of screening a tenant. A rental background check will tell you whether or not the tenant has been convicted of a crime, and an eviction check will tell you whether they’ve been evicted from a rental property before.
Background checks can provide important information about a tenant, since a landlord can be held liable if a tenant commits a crime on the property. But know that there are a handful of guidelines that all landlords need to be aware of when screening based on a criminal background check, and some cities have regulated or banned criminal background checks in the rental process altogether.
Eviction records can also indicate what type of tenant you might be renting to. Keeping eviction circumstances in mind is wise, but a tenant should be allowed to explain their eviction circumstances and offer other proof that they’ll be a quality tenant moving forward is advantageous for everyone.
3. Employment History
Employment verification and employment history can help indicate whether a tenant will be able to pay the rent every month, so some landlords will call the tenant’s current employer to verify that the tenant has a job.
Keep in mind that most employers won’t disclose more than the time period a tenant was (or has been) employed, so by calling their employer, you’ll simply be verifying that the tenant has a current job and a source of income.
4. Current Income
Proof of income is one of the more important parts of the screening process, because at the end of the day, you want to make sure the tenant will be able to pay the rent. Landlords will often check pay stubs or tax returns to ensure a tenant makes around three times the rent.
If a tenant doesn’t have a pay stub or W2 to show you, you can ask for proof of their income or savings through a bank statement, brokerage statement, or some other record that shows they will be able to pay rent.
5. Landlord References
Getting some prior references from a tenant’s past landlords is an important step that’s sometimes skipped. It’s wise to check in with one or two previous landlords and ask a few questions to make sure that the tenant paid rent on time and left the unit in good shape.
If you’re using a service like Avail, we help you navigate landlord references by contacting the tenant’s previous landlords for you and providing you with the reference information.
6. Reason for Leaving Previous Residence
Why applicants left their previous living situation is another critical piece of information. It’s usually something standard like their lease ended, they’re moving to a new area, or they want to move to a bigger place. However, it’s best practice to find out if the applicant was evicted, had an altercation with the previous landlord or roommates, or perhaps he or she is just an impulsive person who moves on a moment’s notice.
Ideally, you want a tenant that will stay for the entire lease period without any drama. Past reasons for changing residences can give you important insights into how the applicant chooses to end rental agreements.
7. Tenant Demeanor
Don’t judge a book by its cover. However, an applicant’s demeanor throughout the screening process can give you hints of what it would be like to deal with them as a full-time tenant. Did they fail to provide you with straightforward answers to simple questions? Were they reluctant to provide references or financial information? Were they just plain rude?
All these potentially hazardous signs can be found at all stages of the screening process, starting with the initial phone call. The ideal tenant will be polite, straightforward, and respectful, just as you should be towards them.
8. Lifestyle Choices
Do the applicants have pets? Are they smokers? Are they musicians? These are important factors to consider when choosing a tenant. None of these factors necessarily disqualify an applicant, but they are all important to think about. For instance, a musician with a drum kit may not be the best fit in a close-quartered, thin-walled apartment building primarily filled with young families and the elderly.
Start Properly Screen Rental Applications
Finding the right tenant can be tough, but Avail provides tenant screening services that makes the screening process a breeze. From credit reports to background checks to online rental applications, Avail takes most of the grunt work out of tenant screening.
Create an account or log in to get the tenant screening process started today.
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