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 might explain why 83% of renters favor self-guided property tours over any other options.
While self-guided rental home tours have many advantages, they come with a few disadvantages as well. 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 pick a time that suits you, receive an access code, and visit the property when it’s convenient for you.
- 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 won’t need to feel hurried or hide your honest reaction if the property isn’t to your liking. Moreover, some renters enjoy the absence of someone asking revealing questions or pressuring them to decide on the spot. Hardly anyone wants to be rushed into decisions, particularly when it comes to choosing where they’ll live for the next several months or years.
Cons
- Occupied rentals won’t be available for self-guided tours. This measure is taken to protect the interests of the current tenant. Self-showings are only suitable for leasing properties that are unoccupied. To tour a rental that’s still occupied, you’ll need to be accompanied by the landlord or property manager.
- Questions will need to wait until after the self-guided tour. While you can always text or email your questions later, some may slip your mind 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. If no one is accompanying you, you might not learn about these things until later in your search.
If you’re looking for a new home to rent in Westbrook or nearby, Real Property Management Evertrust 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.
