The Pros and Cons of Self-Guided Property Tours

If you are seeking a new rental home, you recognize that touring the units is a huge portion of finding that perfect fit. But striving to arrange showings with Oxford property managers can be a stressful experience, especially in our busy lives. Advances in digital technology have provided us with listings with numerous photos and even virtual walk-throughs, but these tools don’t always get a full sense of the property. Maybe this is the reason 83% of renters prefer self-guided property tours over all other options. There are numerous advantages to self-guided rental home tours, but there are also some drawbacks. Before you choose a self-guided tour during your Oxford rental home search, it is important to think about the pros and cons.

Pros

Self-guided tours are preferable for many renters because of the benefits they offer people with busy schedules. Unlike a traditional tour, where you have to meet a landlord or rental agent at the property, self-guided property tours are organized so you can access the property at your convenience. You request a convenient time slot, get an access code, and then proceed to the property when you’re available. When you get a time slot, another advantage is that you don’t need to be anxious about other applicants showing up while you’re there. Due to security reasons, self-guided tours are never double-booked, which guarantees you won’t have uncomfortable encounters with people against whom you might end up competing for the same rental house.

When you get to the property, a lot of renters like you are free to explore the rental home without a landlord or rental agent looking over your shoulder. You don’t have to feel pressed for time or to hide your honest reaction to the property if you don’t want it. Plus, some renters like not having someone there trying to ask personal questions or make them feel like they need to decide right away. Some individuals don’t want to be rushed into decisions, especially not ones as big as where they will be living for the next few months or years.

Cons

Of course, self-guided property tours come with a few disadvantages as well. Before you are given access to a property, the chances are that the leasing office will first ask you to complete an application or a quick screening check. If you don’t pass these checks for some reason, there’s little hope of ever stepping in the front door. You may not even know why you are denied unless the landlord or leasing agent is willing to discuss it with you.

Another potential drawback to self-guided rental house tours is that you cannot ask questions while going through the property. Even though you can always text or email someone about it later, you may have questions during the tour that you forget to ask later. You may also miss out on learning a lot of helpful information about the neighborhood, nearby amenities, etc. These are features that a professional Oxford landlord or leasing agent must be able to inform you when you go to look for a property. If no one is there with you, you may not know about these things until much later in your search process.

In the end, it is up to you to decide which type of property tour works for you. Though both traditional and self-guided tours have pros and cons, you can still take them to your advantage until you’ve found your next rental home. If you’re seeking a new place to live, Real Property Management Trustworthy offers flexible touring options for great homes near you. You can view our listings online.