If you’re on the hunt for a new rental home, touring the units is a major step in finding the ideal place. 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 offer many benefits, but they also have a few drawbacks. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons before opting for a self-guided tour in your rental home search.
Pros
- Convenient for those with busy schedules. In contrast to a traditional tour, where you must arrange to meet a landlord or agent, self-guided tours allow you to explore the property on your schedule. You request a time that works for you, receive an access code, and visit the property at your chosen time.
- For security purposes, self-guided tours are never double-booked so you won’t run into other potential renters who might be competing for the same rental home.
- 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. Some renters also appreciate not having someone present to ask intrusive questions or make them feel like they need to make a hasty decision. Few people appreciate being hurried into decisions, especially when it involves 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 done to safeguard the current tenant’s interests. Self-showings are only suitable for renting out vacant properties. If the rental isn’t vacant yet, you’ll need to tour it with the landlord or property manager.
- Questions will need to wait until after the self-guided tour. Even though you can text or email questions later, you might forget to ask some during the tour.
- Potential to miss out on learning a lot of helpful information about the area. A landlord or professional leasing agent should be able to inform you about these things when you view a property. Without someone present, you may miss out on these details until further along in your search.
If you’re looking for a new home to rent in Winter Garden or nearby, Real Property Management Verita 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.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
