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Safety Tips for Landlords Showing Properties

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with AppFolio, Inc.

Property managers and landlords often put themselves in risky situations when it comes to showing properties to rent. However, they don’t need to be putting their own safety on the line and the safety of the current resident. Landlords can follow these safety tips on their next showing of a unit to avoid unsavory potential residents and dangerous scenarios with strangers.

Pre-Screen Potential Residents Before Showing Units

Showing a rental unit can put the landlord in a problematic situation if they don’t pre-screen those who ask to see the property. When you are showing a property to a potential applicant, you want to be sure you have already pre-screened them. Landlords and property managers should have all of the person’s information along with any other pre-screening work they can do. As you are going to be showing the property to this stranger, it is best to know something about them to ensure you aren’t inviting a dangerous person into the property. Property managers can also ask to see some ID before entering the property with the potential resident just to ensure that the person is exactly who they claim to be.

Show the Unit During the Day

Property managers should show the vacated property during the day. Appointments made for night showings can also put the landlord or property manager in a risky situation. It is best to have showings in the daylight hours, when more people are around should there be a problem.

Don’t Allow Photographs on Preliminary Visits

Many potential residents want to snap photographs of a place they could be renting. However, this opens up a potentially dangerous situation for landlords. Sometimes thieves use this opportunity to case places to rob later. Thieves look for ways in and out so that they can come back to commit their crime. Landlords should tell preliminary visitors to hold off on the photographs for this reason. Photographs can be taken after the landlord has narrowed down the renter list and approved the potential resident.

Prepare Residents for Showings

In many cases, landlords are showing properties that are still occupied by residents moving out at the end of the lease. It is important for property managers to inform the current resident about things they should do to prepare for a showing in order to protect themselves. For residents, this can mean putting away valuables, firearms or private information. Property managers should urge residents to put these things away or in a safe place before the showing to avoid any problems.

Posted by

Zach Devine, Marketing
RentApp.com (A Service of AppFolio)

 AppFolio Property Manager

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Comments (3)

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

PREscreening tenant prospects SAVES everybody time and for many rental prospects with limited time to find a rental home, it allows them to focus on rental homes viewing that will be more enjoyable. 

Jan 23, 2013 08:23 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Excellent safety tips Zach and a few things I would have never thought of............

Jan 23, 2013 08:42 PM
David Popoff
DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT
Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct

Pre screening is key, along with haveing 2 agents on the site. Public open house for tenants works as well.

Jan 23, 2013 09:04 PM