Rental prospects who contact me through my website leave their names and phone numbers so there is at least an electronic trail as to who I am meeting at properties.
Would you show property to someone you've never met before?
If the prospective buyer whom you've never met refuses to give critical information or to meet with you, would you consider this a serious inquiry? Would you show them property by meeting them there?
We get all kinds of leads...by phone, by email from people who want us to show them our listings. If they are not referred by anyone we know, and if we've never met them, we ask the usual questions....
- Are you represented by an agent?
- Are you already preapproved for a loan?
- Then we recommend that they come to our office to meet with us first before we see the property --- we justify this by telling them that based on what we find out that they're looking for, we could upload other properties they may be interested in and we can schedule more showings
- Before they come, we ask for their full name, email address, best number to call them.
- And...or...we ask them to fax a copy of their drivers license to us.
I've had some prospects who try to make me feel guilty by telling me "Well...if you don't want to show me this property, then I'll find someone else...." Or some think they're getting the third degree...
It's a risky business!
It seems that the best explanation I can give them, and one that most legitimate prospects would respect is that it's a safety issue and precautionary measure....
...that the sellers requested that the home is shown only to preapproved buyers
...that realtors are committed to caring for our clients' property (and ourselves!)
What works for you?
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
Central Virginia
LandlordWhisperer
View our available Charlottesville, Albemarle and Lake Monticello rental homes online with photos and floor plans
"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous
It is a safety concern and we should be cautious of people who are not forthcoming with information. I always take someone with me if I'm meeting a client for the first time, especially if the house is vacant, and on the outskirts of the city.
If a potential clietn will not leave the basic information you suggested, something is wrong (already has agent, just looking with no intent to buy, etc.). If they won't give this info, will not meet them.
I remind my prospects that Indiana is a conceal and carry state.....JUST Kidding, If people want to see something right away I usually try to get them to set up an appointment for later in the day or the next day..if they aren't flexible enough to do that then they probably aren't serious buyers or have other intentions that I don't want to find out about
Wallace,
It's so important to pre-qualify all prospective tenants or buyers. Not only for your safety, but are they a fit for the property. Nothing worse that starting off showing folks something they cannot afford. Nothing they can will look good to them after that:-)
All the best, Michelle