Posted by Stacy (AZ) on October 13, 1998 at 16:58:52:
Michelle, I found the site and the service seems terrific. Does it live up to the hype? If so, it would be a valuable tenant screening service, especially if the price is reasonable. Is it $10 per tenant report…the full report mentioned in on the web-page?
Stacy
Anyone had this happen to them? - Posted by Jim_NC
Posted by Jim_NC on October 12, 1998 at 11:44:23:
I received a call last night on my “Rent To Own” ad and it was
a lady that said her and her husband were in a hurry to find a place to
live because they just had twins and needed more room. She
wanted to meet me this morning to show her the house.
I met her at a convenient store and she started following me
to the house. She had driven an hour to get here. When we were
about a 1/2 mile from the house I looked in my rear view mirror
and she had whipped her car in a driveway, turned around, and
sped off! I just sat there with my jaw in my lap. I waited a few
minutes and turned around to see where she went and she was just
gone!
I guess I better get used to dealing with nut cases. Just thought
you all would like a good laugh.
Re: Anyone had this happen to them? - Posted by chris
Posted by chris on October 13, 1998 at 12:58:21:
Was she alone? Did she fear for her safety? After driving one hour maybe she thought twice.
Re: Anyone had this happen to them? - Posted by chris
Posted by chris on October 13, 1998 at 12:57:56:
Was she alone? Did she fear for her safety? After driving one hour maybe she thought twice.
Re: Anyone had this happen to them? - Posted by Rob FL
Posted by Rob FL on October 13, 1998 at 06:29:05:
On all my rentals this is how I advertise…I always put up signs around the property and never advertise in the newspaper…verrrry cheap…the phone number is to a voice mailbox…the message tells the size, the beds and baths, amenities, monthly rent and deposit, directions to the property, date it will be available, and other pertinent info. So by the time they leave me a message they should have driven by the property and have all the important info. It eliminates my no shows almost completely. Still working on it until I get 100% (if ever). I like Joe K’s advice.
How we show properties - Posted by PBoone
Posted by PBoone on October 12, 1998 at 15:38:05:
Thanks for the laugh today. Looking at the discussion of the group I will share how we go about showing properties.
After many flakes and disinterested frustrating parties we have decided and sucessfully using lockboxes. We screen calls to get a feel for the party, then if we are reasonably sure there is good potential we give them the combination. Works great for us less wasted time showing properties.
Lockboxes are available for about $25.00 at and hardware store.
Pat
Re: Anyone had this happen to them? - Posted by Jennifer(NH)
Posted by Jennifer(NH) on October 12, 1998 at 14:37:56:
I’ve seen and heard a lot, but never this. Thanks for the chuckle. Maybe she didn’t like the street you were driving down. 
I don’t know about everybody else, but I find the people that are most desperate to see the property turn out to be the biggest waste of time.
Jennifer
Re: Anyone had this happen to them? - Posted by LM
Posted by LM on October 12, 1998 at 14:02:37:
People’s priorities guide them (or lack of priorities). What I have found that works is to require the person you are meeting to call you beforehand to confirm that they are able to meet you. Or, if you want to have control over the situation, you can make arrangements to call to reconfirm the appointment. Sure, it shouldn’t be your responsibility. However, majority of the time it saves gas, time, and effort for those no shows who are inconsiderate. I’ve heard all the excuses from: My dog went into labor to everything else
Re: Anyone had this happen to them? - Posted by phil fernandez
Posted by phil fernandez on October 12, 1998 at 13:55:46:
Jim,
Nothing surprises me anymore. Look at it this way, she helped you out by disappearing. You now don’t have to rent to her.
Keep up the good work and don’t get discouraged you’re doing fine. See you in the chat room tonight.
Often - Posted by Michele(MI)
Posted by Michele(MI) on October 12, 1998 at 13:40:14:
No shows happen about 50% of the time for us.
We usually scheduled two or more shows at the
same time. That way, hopefully, I will show it
to at least one person/family for the time invested
in driving to the property.
It’s normal, just prepare for it.
Michele R. Eddy
Something similar - Posted by red baron
Posted by red baron on October 12, 1998 at 13:25:29:
Some years ago, I was in the executive search
business and was looking for a Construction
Estimator for a local company. I found a guy who
had all the right credentials for the job. He had
great references and I arranged for him to come
to my office for an interview with the employer.
He lived about 50 miles out of town and he called
to re-confirm the meeting and to clarify the
driving directions.
He never showed, he never called and to this day,
I still don’t know what happened to him. despite
several attempts to contact him after the no-show.
You need to realise that you are dealing with
people and they change their minds, often for a
reason that just doesn’t make any logical sense
to anyone else.
That’s why in real estate, it doesn’t count until
it’s a closed deal and the money is in the bank.
Re: Anyone had this happen to them? - Posted by Jim_NC
Posted by Jim_NC on October 13, 1998 at 15:30:19:
I don’t know chris. I have not talked to her since it happened. We were in a very upscale area. Not a low rent area. I really don’t care to ever hear from her again.
Here’s the deal . . . - Posted by Joe Kaiser
Posted by Joe Kaiser on October 12, 1998 at 23:45:59:
We NEVER show properties anymore. Never. People call from an ad and get an address with a description of the property off the voice mail. They can then choose to drive out to the property, peek in the windows and if they’d like, fill out an application (they’re tacked to the front of the house near the big window that has a flyer further describing the property and terms of the deal. If they like what they see, they fill out and fax in their app. If I like what I see on their app, I approve them and give them the combo to the lock box. That way, they can check out the insides themselves (but the bad dudes can’t). Once I hear back that “it’s a go,” we do the paperwork and put it to bed.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been stood up, and on any given Sunday, that fax machine starts spitting out the apps. Bingo, Bango, Bongo . . . described in my lease option course, Targeting the Tired Landlord . . . available right here.
Joe
Re: How we show properties - Posted by JohnG
Posted by JohnG on October 12, 1998 at 20:34:08:
I leave a key in the mailbox and have people drive by. If they are interested they can go in and take a look. Please take off your shoes and lock the door and put the key back in the mailbox.
I have done quite a few of these in the past three years and we have never had a problem. Oh, no we had one case (out of town) where an old fashioned claw tub was removed from the house. Can you believe it ?
SW SW SW SW
Some Will
Some Won’t
So What
Some ones waiting
(Thanks Ron Legrand)
Multiple showings are better - Posted by red baron
Posted by red baron on October 12, 1998 at 14:27:08:
Multiple showings are better anyway; partly
because it is easier on you as the owner but also
when you have two or three people there at one
time, you normally have some “peer pressure” for
someone to commit to a deal.
Re: Here’s the deal . . . - Posted by Stacy (AZ)
Posted by Stacy (AZ) on October 13, 1998 at 22:06:59:
Joe, you are the undisputed KING of efficiency. I appreciate your posts very much. You put an interesting spin on REI. Shift my paradigm!
Stacy
But…we charge for apps. - Posted by Michele(MI)
Posted by Michele(MI) on October 13, 1998 at 06:25:37:
Joe,
Interesting Idea, however, how do you do your apps.
without all the fees? We are charged $10.00 by
RealChek for our background and credit checks.
Could you please expand.
Thanks,
Michele R. Eddy
Re: But…we charge for apps. - Posted by The Baze
Posted by The Baze on October 13, 1998 at 14:18:24:
Michele
Could you please give me RealCheck’s phone number or web site, if they have one. I pay $20 per credit check w/ a company in my town. Of course, I’m like Joe, I pick the best of the bunch. But I’ll do what I can to save $10. Thanks.
Tom Bazley
Re: But…we charge for apps. - Posted by Joe Kaiser
Posted by Joe Kaiser on October 13, 1998 at 08:56:24:
When you have several apps to choose from, you pick what looks to be the very best of the bunch and if you’re paying for credit checks, you just do that one. If it pans out, you’re done - if not, you go on to the next one. $10 isn’t going to break me.
Joe
JP, Can I post it? - Posted by Michele(MI)
Posted by Michele(MI) on October 13, 1998 at 16:35:29:
JP,
This company offers many services to help landlords.
Can I post the name and phone number?
Michele R. Eddy