AGENTS! If you have clients looking for rental homes * Have them LEARN the process!

A featured post regarding an agent (leasing) not providing a cel phone # earned a contrary comment from me and got me thinking why a VOICE on the phone may not get you many agents' cel phone numbers.

If you are a real estate agent advising clients who are moving elsewhere and looking for a RENTAL home, they may well find the local rules and procedures are NOT the same as with BUYING a HOME.

1) FIRST * rental occupied homes most certainly require notice and RARELY have lock boxes on them.  Some planning is required to show them - contact the residents, arrange for keys, etc.  PLAN AHEAD.  Since these issues are time consuming, get them out of the way ahead of time.

2) SECOND * doing homework on lease terms * available/move-in dates * PETS should be done PRIOR to scheduling a showing.

Our local MLS did not allow the Rental Section to have an AVAILABLE DATE of NOW until last year!!!  Most area property managers no longer list their properties there

3)  PREVIEWING by agents is normally not done.  If a real estate agent calls me to PREVIEW a rental home for their tenant prospect client, I advise them to have their CLIENT preview the home on my website * there are 30+ photos of the home VACANT and usually floor plans.  There is a Google map option for them to chart distances from properties to their work * schools, etc.

4)  BE PREPARED by coming with MONEY.  I am now advising prospect callers to come to property viewing appointments with completed rental applications and their checkbook if they think they are interested in a property of mine. 

I will take a personal check for move-in monies * application fees, first full month's rent and security deposit * if the move-in is more than 2 weeks a way; otherwise, I'll require bank or certified funds.

I am now requiring confirmation phone calls an hour before I meet a rental prospect and I have returned to the OLDEN days of requiring a real estate agent to come to my office to pick up and return unit keys if their client wants to see a vacant unit.

I require completed rental applications for all adult applicants prior to showing prospects occupied homes and most real estate agents can't get past this procedure or my need to know who I am taking into my residents' homes if for no other reason that liability and security.

The rental market NATIONWIDE for rental homes in good locations is going to be tight for the next several years as homeowners moving for employment, education, etc. are NOT buying. 

There will be good areas of compensation for agents to want to specialize in TENANT LOCATION and REFERRAL work * IF they learn and understand their local LEASING PROCESS!!!