Some People Are Just Wierd
One of our rentals has been vacant for two months now and not for lack of showings. Potential tenants seem to be super picky now probably due to the huge inventory of rental units in our area. I’ve been showing it and agents have been showing it since we listed it in the local Multiple Listing Service.
Some of the people I’ve showed it to seem to think that it would “hurt my feelings” if, after seeing the property, decide that the place is not for them. What-ever. I swear, I’ve gotten more comments like, “Ok, we’ll be calling you” or “We have one more place to see which we have to go to (and get this) out of respect” than I can shake the proverbial stick at.
In my experience, if it’s one thing most tenants DON’T have is respect, and this includes respect for time, money or other people’s property.
The other interesting interaction was with a referral from an existing tenant. This woman was all in a hurry to get into a place because she’s staying in a hotel and had just moved from Texas. Ok fine. Upon meeting her she says that she has “one more place to see” in Orlando.
Orlando is about 1.5 hours away from where my rental is. So in my mind I’m thinking, “Lady, where are you living? Orlando or Melbourne?”
Then she’s got this strange cell phone number which has a New Jersey area code, but yet she says she just moved from Texas. When I call the phone from a land-line, I get through no problem. When I call it from my cell phone, the call can’t be put through.
All I can say is: sketchy, sketchy, SKETCHY. N-E-X-T!
I’ve also had agents call to show the place and then tell me that their clients can only afford $750 per month rent and can I reduce the rent from $800. My answer to the agent would be “Why are you showing clients rentals that they can’t afford.” These agents must like wasting their time for the big $200 commission they they’ll get IF their client signs a lease.
People don’t seem to notice that I just don’t care if the place is not for them. At this point, I’ll know they’re serious if they ask for an application, fill it out completely and hand me the application fee in cash on the spot.
