When searching for a new rental home, touring different units is an essential part of finding the perfect match. However, setting up showings with property managers can take up a lot of time, especially when life is busy.
Thanks to digital technology, we now have listings with numerous photos and virtual tours, but these tools don’t always give the full picture of the property. This likely explains why 83% of renters prefer self-guided property tours to other options.
Self-guided rental home tours certainly offer many perks, but they do come with some drawbacks. Weighing the pros and cons is important before deciding on a self-guided tour during your rental home search.
Pros
- Convenient for those with busy schedules. Unlike a traditional tour, which requires meeting with a landlord or rental agent, self-guided tours are designed for you to access the property at your convenience. You select a convenient time slot, get an access code, and visit the property at your leisure.
- For security purposes, self-guided tours are never double-booked, ensuring you won’t have awkward encounters with others who might be competing for the same rental.
- Freedom to explore the rental home without a landlord or rental agent looking over your shoulder. You don’t have to feel rushed or conceal your true feelings about the property if you don’t like it. Additionally, some renters appreciate not having someone there asking probing questions or pressuring them to make an immediate decision. Most people don’t like being rushed into decisions, especially important ones like where they’ll be living for the next few months or years.
Cons
- Occupied rentals won’t be available for self-guided tours. This is in place to safeguard the current tenant’s interests. Self-showings are appropriate only for leasing vacant properties. For a rental that’s not yet vacant, you’ll need to be accompanied by the landlord or property manager during the tour.
- Questions will need to wait until after the self-guided tour. Though you can text or email someone later, you might forget to ask some questions during the tour.
- Potential to miss out on learning a lot of helpful information about the area. These are points that a landlord or professional leasing agent should cover when you view a property. If no one is with you, you may only discover these details later in your search process.
If you’re looking for a new home to rent in Oxford or nearby, Real Property Management Trustworthy offers flexible touring options for great homes near you. Feel free to check out our available rentals for more information and to schedule a viewing.
Originally Published on Aug 19, 2022
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