With us being a lease up, we keep contacting until they say stop. If they lease else where we add a followup 10 months out. My previous properties had the 3x then cancel guest card rule
I know the standards are high. I know follow up is essential.. But as a prospect I HATE being followed up with more than 3 times... In fact so much so I am less likely to rent if I am being harassed.
My property has the luxury of being on a waitlist, so little follow up is required since we are renting apartments sight unseen and without tours. We have been using Knock for a few months, which mostly imports leads for us and we preach our waitlist process since we rent so many apartments sight-unseen.
We have auto settings for within 24 hours, 72 hours, and 10 days, then the leasing team determines if it's still warm. We require a phone call if there's a number. Email should be used as a back-up whenever possible. During lease-ups, we disregard all of the above and keep going until they tell us to leave them alone.
Our standard depends on when they are looking.
The type of follow up depends on what works for that particular prospect. It can be text, email or phone call. It’s all about them feeling comfortable.
We will follow up 3 times if they are looking for immediate or the time frame has recently passed, if they’re looking 30+ days out that increases to 6 and if they are 60+ days out it increases to 10. With of course stopping when asked.
We also can set up follow up for 6 months to year for anybody who ended up going somewhere else, we’ll do a tap in around the time they should be receiving their renewal letter asking if they are looking for a new place after their initial lease.
Follow up is all about consistency and making that connection with the prospect to make them want to choose you and your community. It really should be tailored to the specific prospect, in my opinion.
Minimum of 12 contacts! A best practice is never "dead" a lead unless they tell you No, or they are no longer looking. I expect an authentic reason why the prospect didn't lease, where did they sign a lease, etc. I am then able to coach and train on the specifics. Over time, your team will be able to overcome more objections with ease and sign more leases!
3 years 9 months ago#45499by Marcus Donte' Winchester
3 times. In the 27 years I've worked in property management, so many follow up calls are really useless after the first contact which most people these days prefer an email to thank them for their interest in the property and to let them know we still have apartment homes available for their time frame! People get annoyed with all the marketing calls. Usually they tell me they will call when they are ready. Many times they give bad phone numbers... It's like going shopping and being asked if I want to apply for a credit card! I really hate that!
I know that it's likely not being done, but my view has always been to follow up until:
* They Lease
* They ask you to stop
* You physically can't get ahold of them (meaning the email
address bounces or the phone is disconnected)
When I was still in leasing, I ended up leasing to people LONG after others would have stopped following up.
I know, right? I sometimes feel I keep my leads too long, but then I call them 6-12 months later and am surprised by the fact that they are indeed still looking!
It never ceases to amaze me. We have people that apply for an apartment we have available, then when we followup on items they left off of the application, we never hear from them again. This is after they have paid the application fee! I just had one the other day pester me about an apartment, then they filled out the application, paid the fee, but neglected to send their paystubs as required. I e-mailed them, called them, and crickets. Maybe for the best; maybe their were trying to hide something. Just kind of frustrating.