The COVID-19 has affected the world to such a great extent. Aside from the continually growing number of deaths and positive cases, the lockdowns and quarantines have forced businesses to close, companies to lay off employees, and people to adapt to inconvenient practices that are considered the “new normal.”
One of the most badly hit industries is the rental housing industry. Tenants are failing to pay rent and pre-terminating their lease agreements because their only option is to move back to their home states to save on rent costs.
Related article: What Landlords Can Do in the time of COVID-19
As a landlord, your business has to deal with all of these problems, and one challenging task is filling in vacancies.
Good thing there are now digital platforms that help you easily have your vacancy listings reach hundreds of home hunters. Property listing syndication websites like Padleads gives you a venue to do that.
Since you have Padleads as a tool to market your units, all you need to do is is figure out how to transact with rental applicants, and how your new tenant can move into your unit without risking anyone’s health. Here are a few tips for you:
Check local regulations
Some states have set regulations as a safety protocol which might include limiting movement and transportation. Check if your state has specific guidelines that could hinder moving to a new home.
If there are legal ways to get around such regulations, e.g., acquiring a permit, work on it even before you have renters sending their applications.
Virtual Tours and Online Communication
When an interested client reaches out to you through Padleads, it’s expected that they want to see the unit. But since a face to face walkthrough isn’t that feasible nowadays, you have to be prepared to conduct outstanding virtual tours of your property. You can find a few tips on how to do that here.
Digitize your screening process.
Important documents can now be digitized. A tenant can send you the necessary documents you need to evaluate their application online. Ask them to email you their income documents, credit reports, and tenant history reports.
To validate the contents of those documents, you can do so by calling authorized individuals who can verify the information. You can conduct interviews through video calls as well.
Let tenants make arrangements ahead of time.
Once you have narrowed your list of applicants down to the strongest ones, it’s only fair to let them know that they might be moving in soon. Since it’s difficult to find moving companies that are operating these days as well as other service providers needed to help in the move, this will give them enough time to source them.
If you want to go the extra mile, have a directory of service providers that they might need to help them move in.
Gear up.
Should there be face to face interactions before or during the move, make sure that it’s necessary and there’s no digital alternative available, and all parties involved in the personal meet-up are wearing face masks and face shields.