The only constant thing in this world is change. Everywhere we look, there are changes present because there is progress. We are constantly adjusting to new things that make life easier for us. In the rental business, you may also notice a few modifications to how we do things.

One example is property viewings. It is natural for tenant applicants to want to check a property themselves. After all, they will potentially live there, so they want to make sure that it is to their liking.

Setting up an appointment to meet them to show them the unit can become a bit tricky sometimes. You have to set a time convenient for you and the potential tenant. If one of you does not have a lot of free time, it is challenging to push through with a property viewing. Luckily, there is a new way.

There is a new trend called self-tours. It has become popular with property owners and leasing agents.

What are self-tours?

Self-tours allow potential tenants to view a property without agents or property owners accompanying them. This can help landlords and leasing agents who do not have enough free time to showcase a property. The tenants will need to book a self-tour online based on their preferred time. The property’s key will be inside a lockbox, which can be accessed using a serial number.

This option can benefit landlords, leasing agents, and potential tenants. It is more efficient because the renters can view the property at their convenience. They do not have to wait for you to see it for themselves. It will also mean that you will have more time to focus on other things. Self-tours will also make the process faster because there is no need to wait for everyone’s availability. More tenants can have access to touring the property, so there is an increased chance of obtaining a new renter.

Although there are advantages to these self-tours, some are hesitant to try it out. Some are worried about safety, which is understandable.

Are they safe?

The first thing that you might think of is the property’s safety. After all, you don’t want anything terrible to happen to it. However, self-tours are made safe to protect the landlord’s investment.

For example, a tenant who will set up a self-tour needs to submit their name and contact details. They will only get an access code once their details are verified.

Once they have their access code, they are allowed to use it once. The code also has an expiration, usually an hour. After that time, the tenant will not have access to the property. If they wish to view the property again, they need to book another schedule for the self-tour.

To ensure that the property is safe from damages and theft, I would suggest having it unfurnished during the self-tours. We cannot control other people’s behaviors, but we can avoid tempting them with things inside the property.

If you can not empty furnished units, you can install surveillance cameras to discourage stealing. If possible, remove items that can easily get stolen. Beds and couches are okay because they are not as easy to steal.

Advantages

Self-tours have several advantages. Aside from saving you time, it can encourage more tenants to consider the property; you won’t have to worry about rushing to the property to show it to the applicants; they can do it themselves in their free time.

If you’re planning to give self-tours a try, just make sure that you have safeguards in place, and you should make sure that those who will be granted the privilege to self-tour are reliable.

Since there is this faster way to showcase a property, you can entertain more applicants without needing to tour them all. Why don’t you sign up for Padleads now? It’s a great platform to create property listings, which you can syndicate to other websites so that more potential renters can see them.