Curious as to what your stance is on showing apartments if you don’t have a model to show.

Curious as to what your stance is on showing apartments if you don’t have a model to show. Do you show a vacant unit even if the tenant had just moved out or do you make the prospect wait until you have a vacant unit turned and completely ready?Curious as to what your stance is on showing apartments if you don’t have a model to show. Do you show a vacant unit even if the tenant had just moved out or do you make the prospect wait until you have a vacant unit turned and completely ready?

It depends on how bad it looks but if that’s the only apartment you have to lease it probably can’t hurt.

Make sure to start taking photos and videos so you can show them what it should look like. I absolutely do not show vacant NOT ready apartments. As much as people say it- they do remember the junk and dirt left behind!

Honestly you don't need it to lease. Yes it's so good to have!! However if you guys don't have any you have to make due until you do. If anything covid proved that to us . There is other ways to get them to lease. You must make sure once they lease that you give them the best experience and apartment. Or if you have an apartment that's ready to Simi view take pics/video of what can be shown. DO NOT SHOW AN UN READY APARTMENT!! I DON'T CARE HOW DESPERATE YOU ARE TO LEASE IT. People say they don't care, oh they do trust me! I have leased many apartments without them even coming to the community. Best way also is to make sure as soon as you have one ready for a new resident make sure the team take pics and video of every floor plan. Can describe to a T the differences.

Completely turned. You only get one time to make the 1st impression!

Never show an apartment that isn’t ready.

I don’t show anything that isn’t market ready. My properties have been 100% occupied the last 5 years. 60 day notice required prior to move out. So when I receive a notice, I tell the prospect that we don’t have anything to show. But, if they apply and are approved, I schedule a time with the current resident for a quick walk through of the apartment with the new resident. It’s never been an issue and it’s actually in their lease agreement that if they give notice to vacate we have the right to show their apartment with prior notice. I’ve never just notified them though I reach out and ask for a convenient time to stop by and the majority tell me to come while they’re at work.

My first thought for a community that has been 100% occupied for 5 years is that a big rent increase is in order.

I’ve increased rent every year/at renewal. Have increased fees as well. I have 4 properties and they all stay 100%. 10 days between a move out and the new move in. One of the properties is small only 20 units all 2 bed 2 bath…at take over in 2017 average rent was $1000/unit. Now we have a starting price of $1500 with average rent of $1625. Did a lease up last year for 64 units all very small 400 sqft 1 bed 1 bath. Initially leased all for $995/mo. Leased them all within 60 days with a mix of 12 month and 6 month leases (for extra $50/mo). We went up to $1150/mo at renewal but only received 3 NTVs. All 3 people that gave notice ended up transferring to a larger apartment at one of my other properties and it was beyond easy finding a new resident for their old apartment. Didn’t even run a single ad…put a basic real estate sign with my phone number out by the road and I took it down less than a week later

NEVER show an apartment that isn't 100% for like 500 reasons.

We specialize in true "lofts" in historic buildings and have no models to show. We lease every inch of property we can. So, our policy is that we can show a tenants unit (once they provide us with their NTV) with 24 hours advanced notice.

Always when it's completely ready

We have walk throughs recorded and will email them to prospects if we can't show them their floor plan.

We had 106 units and had photos of each and every apartment. We started uploading videos later. We pretty much always had a model though. Otherwise after move out, I walk every unit. If I feel the apartment had been cleaned and left nice with nothing in it from the previous tenant, I’d show it. We were a really desirable property, so people were desperate to see and lease.

Depends on the demand. I will show them pictures and a virtual tour. If they insist I let them know it just vacated and to keep an open mind.

If I only have a vacant not ready to show, I disclose that info to the prospect before we enter. That way they can get a feel for the space at least. All prospects do not mind as long as they know beforehand that the home will be cleaned. I always follow up with a video and/or matterport scan so they can see what it will look like after the turn is completed. It's better to accommodate what the prospect wants, which is to see an actual home, than to lose out on a renter bc the home isn't ready to show is how I think of it. I've gotten many leases showing a freshly moved out home that hasn't been turned. Disclosure and follow-up are key in this scenario.

Only the model or a market ready unit. Never one that hasn’t been completely turned.

I have videos I made during covid. I never have anything to show since we stay full and turning, so I offer to send a video since most of the units look the same, of the same styles. never ever would show a non ready unit. if you don't show you care to show them a perfect unit, why should they think you will do any better at managing? just my opinion. sorry if I offended anyone

We don’t show an unready unit ever. We have a virtual walkthrough if one is unavailable to view.

I have definitely shown units that are painted and clean but not 100% and it has worked out great! Waiting on quartz countertops approx 3 weeks so talked about the unit to a great prospect. Showed her unit with missing counters and she could see through it and rented. Top tier tenant with incredible credit and income. If I waited till 100% would have gone another almost month without renting. Have done this “almost ready” showing several times over 8 years and have had lots of success. I think it HAS to be clean but I think the way it is approached is also a part of it if not 100%

Thank you to all the people who said NEVER show an unturned unit.
No matter how good maintenance turns that unit 90% of the time there are tons of complaints. They still dee it like it was, not how it is. The tubs are still moldy, the carpets still have stains.
I had one leasing agent that wanted every penny of commission she could get her hands on and did this over and over again, against company policy, and me and Earl finally broke her of this habit.
Earl was a 10” suction cup based lifelike male appendage that I would stick firmly to the countertop so it’s the first thing you saw when you walked in. Only took a few times for her to stop dragging folks in.

You really don’t need a model, at one of my sites
We haven’t had or used a model in three years. The team shows the vacant apartment or
We have recorded virtual tours, 360 tours of all the floor plans and regular floor plans !
It’s 2022 and leasing has really evolved.
Models are pretty, but the customer wants to see what they are renting. .