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Showing potential tenants around your rental property may feel like a tedious job at times, but it’s a crucial part of your role as a landlord.
How you handle these viewings can make or break your reputation as a landlord. Property viewings aren’t just about showing your property in the best light; they’re also about making the right impression on prospective tenants and determining if they’re a good fit for your property.
With this in mind, landlords must approach tenant viewings with a clear strategy and plan to help both parties gain as much value as possible from the experience.
In this article, we’ll explain everything landlords need to know about conducting successful tenant viewings.
Should you carry out tenant viewings yourself?
Wondering if you should conduct property viewings yourself? Showing potential tenants around can seem like a bit of a chore, so it’s tempting to hand the reins over to a letting agent to save yourself time and hassle. Before you do so, there are a couple of things you should consider.
Firstly, there’s the cost involved. Paying a letting agent for a job you could do yourself will eat into your profits. Secondly, unless you’re using a fully managed letting agent service, you will be the one who deals with the tenants once they’ve moved in. Therefore, it can be beneficial to meet them yourself to assess whether they’re the right fit for you and your place. We’ll learn more about the kinds of things to look out for and ask tenants to pre-screen them during viewings later in this article.
Ultimately, whether you conduct your own tenant viewings or not is a personal choice. It’ll depend on your circumstances, budget, and other commitments. However, it’s important to consider the potential benefits of doing it yourself before deciding.
A step-by-step guide to conducting rental property viewings
If you want to get the most value from rental property viewings, it’s important to approach them with a plan to ensure you’ve got all bases covered and to help things run smoothly.
Here’s our step-by-step guide to preparing for and conducting successful rental property viewings.
Provide clear directions – Nothing gets a viewing off to a worse start than if the potential tenant gets lost or can’t find the property. When you arrange the viewing, email over detailed directions and a map to make the property easier to find on the day. Make sure you include your contact details, too, so they can call you if they’re running late or struggling to find the property.
Confirm the viewing – If the viewing was arranged some time in advance, a friendly call or text on the morning to confirm attendance can help minimise the risk of no-shows.
Have your questions ready – Plan a few questions you’d like to ask to find out if they are likely to be a reliable tenant and a good fit for your property.
Take a folder of documentation – Take along a folder with all the relevant information about the property, local area, safety checks, contract, etc. This demonstrates that you are organised and will help you answer questions more thoroughly.
Make a list of points to cover – Identify and list the property’s key features so that you can emphasise them during the viewing. Knowing what makes your property unique allows you to present it in the best possible light.
Arrive early – Always make sure you arrive early so you can set the stage and ensure everything is in place. Being punctual also demonstrates your reliability and professionalism; you don’t want to risk keeping your prospective tenants waiting.
Spruce it up – First impressions count, so make sure your property is looking at its best. Have a quick tidy – fluff the cushions, straighten the rug, dust the picture frames, and tidy up the property’s exterior to enhance the property’s appeal.
Air the property – There’s nothing more off-putting than a stale, musty, or stuffy smell, so get those windows open and give the property a good air before your visitors arrive.
Get the temperature right – If it’s summer, leave the windows open to let a cool breeze run through the property. If it’s winter, stick the heating on to make the property feel comfortable and cosy.
Turn on lights – If it’s gloomy or dark outside, walk through the property and switch the lights on in each room before anyone arrives to make it feel warm and welcoming. Choose lamps over overhead lights to make rooms feel more cosy and homely.
Give them some space – Once you’ve given your visitors the tour, let them have some time to look around and discuss things in private.
Answer questions honestly – Be genuine and honest when answering questions. This helps to build trust from the get-go.
Clarify the next steps – Once the viewing’s over, let them know the next steps if they’re interested.
The more thorough you are with preparing and planning for tenant viewings, the smoother they are likely to run, and the easier it will be to find reliable tenants who are a good fit for your property.
Conducting viewings at an occupied property
Any time during which your rental property is empty costs you money. This is why it makes sense to move new tenants in as soon as the old ones have vacated. However, to do so, you’ll need to show your new prospective tenants around while your old tenants still live in the property.
To help this process run smoother, include a clause about viewings within your tenancy agreement. For it to be valid, the clause must be ‘reasonable’ though; you shouldn’t expect tenants to let you in to conduct viewings any sooner than 2 or 3 weeks before they are due to vacate the property. You can’t insist that they deep clean for every viewing or go out whilst you’re showing prospective tenants around either.
Whilst including a clause about viewings may help set out your expectations to tenants, there’s always the chance that they’ll still say no. As long as your terms are reasonable, this would mean that they are breaching their contract. However, if they’re leaving in a couple of weeks anyway, there’s not much you can really do about it.
Usually, if you have a good relationship with the tenant, they won’t have a problem with you arranging viewings whilst they still live at the property. You cannot go ahead with viewings without their consent though.
When arranging viewings for an occupied property, there are a few rules you should abide by:
- Only conduct viewings during the last week or two of the tenancy.
- Ask when the most convenient time is for the tenant.
- Always give at least 24 hours’ notice of a viewing.
- Get the tenant’s permission for every viewing.
- Group viewings together where possible to minimise disruption.
Ultimately, your tenants have the right to the ‘quiet enjoyment’ of their home. If they refuse you access for viewings, you should respect that, even if it means dealing with a slightly longer void period than you’d have liked. However, you’ll find that most tenants are very understanding about letting you show potential tenants around as long as you’re considerate in your approach.
Should you offer virtual property viewings?
Have you ever toyed with the idea of offering virtual property viewings for your rental? Whilst nothing beats visiting the property in person, there are certain circumstances in which virtual viewings can be invaluable.
If you’re not sure how virtual viewings work, let us explain. There are a few different options available, including video tours, virtual walkthroughs, and live virtual viewings.
Video tours are usually simple videos that showcase the property room by room. Virtual walkthroughs are the next level. They give viewers a full 360-degree view of the property, letting them walk through each room and get a feel for the place from every angle. These two options are often included in the property’s online listing. Finally, there’s the virtual viewing appointment, where you give potential tenants a real-time personal tour over a video platform like Zoom, WhatsApp, or Microsoft Teams. This option allows you to have a chat and answer any questions as you go.
The main benefit of virtual viewings is that they make your property accessible to a wider audience. If someone is relocating and lives a long way from the property, it may be difficult to travel a long distance for a ten-minute viewing. Virtual viewings can be particularly useful if you’re managing a student let and have interest from international students. This method of viewing has become more popular since COVID-19, when virtual viewings were frequently used in place of in-person viewings to minimise social contact.
Whether you choose to offer virtual viewings is a personal decision. Including virtual videos and walkthroughs on your online listings can generate more interest in the property. However, it’s worth noting that this approach may suit some landlords more than others, depending on your property type and target demographic.
What to ask prospective tenants
Most people assume tenant viewings are all about trying to sell the property to the tenant, but they’re also an excellent opportunity for the landlord to get to know potential tenants and decide if they seem like a good fit for the property.
If you’re carrying out the viewings yourself, you can use them to pre-screen potential tenants, gauge their character, and have an informal chat.
Choosing the right tenant is an important decision. You need to be able to trust your tenant to pay rent on time and look after your property, so it’s important to have a thorough tenant screening process. The property viewing is a good starting point for your process. Remember, this is just a casual chat; be careful not to bombard them with questions or grill them – you don’t want to scare them away!
- Do you live around here currently?
This question can open up a conversation about the tenant’s current living situation and why they’re moving, without seeming too intrusive.
- When are you hoping to move in?
The property’s availability and the tenant’s moving timeline must match up. If they don’t, it’s better to know early on to avoid wasting time.
- Who would live at the property with you?
Remember, it may not just be the person you show around who plans to move in. Asking this question early can avoid any surprises later and help you assess their suitability for your property.
- Do you have any pets?
No matter what your stance is on pets in rental properties, it’s important to know whether a prospective tenant plans to bring a pet with them so that you can determine whether the property is suitable for their furry friend or not.
- Where do you work?
At the end of the day, you need a tenant who’s reliable with paying rent. Knowing a little about their current role can provide insight into their lifestyle and financial stability.
- Do you have any questions?
Don’t forget that the viewing should allow both parties to get to know each other. Inviting prospective tenants to ask you questions can help build trust and ease any concerns.
Also, don’t underestimate how important it is to trust your gut instinct; usually, if you feel a little uneasy about a potential tenant, there’s good reason for it.
From presenting your rental property in the best light to being transparent and open in your communications, how you conduct tenant viewings sets the groundwork for a successful rental business.
Ultimately, investing time and effort into developing a thorough and thoughtful process for carrying out tenant property viewings can pay dividends in helping you secure the right tenants for your property.
