COVID-19: Keeping Rental Messaging Streamlined During the Global Pandemic

Communication is vital in the real estate industry, especially when marketing, showing and closing a rental property. Housing providers and renters reach out to each other to clarify income history, employment details, and reference checks. Communication becomes essential during the tenant screening process, as housing providers review potential renters’ backgrounds to make the best leasing decision. We will discuss how critical effective communication is during the rental process and which steps housing providers can take to optimize it, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Use Communication to Maintain the Relationship

Since state regulations are fluidly changing, exercise prudence when communicating with potential tenants. In your rental listing, clearly state the terms of the rental and the period for which it is available. If you need to contact your applicants, refrain from doing so after business hours. Flexibility is critical; for example, instead of conducting in-person showings or open houses, offer to do FaceTime or virtual tours instead. Do not hesitate over fear of “over-communicating”, instead embrace every detail as much as possible.

Be in the Know

As states reopen for business, housing providers must monitor the evolving regulations that have been put in place due to the pandemic. While real estate is considered an essential business, housing providers must consider their state’s regulations on essential business. For example, this past March, California issued a stay-at-home order (different from a stay-at-home guidance) in which residents are required to remain in their residences unless for essential tasks such as grocery shopping or exercising. Keeping abreast of these changes reassures your potential renters that you are taking the necessary steps to protect all parties in the rental process.

Leverage Social Media Tools

Social media provides a convenient way to stay informed of the changing local and statewide regulations. As millions of Americans stay at home, these channels become an increasingly used medium to connect leasing agents with renters. By posting ads on Facebook and Twitter, housing providers deploy a tool already used by millions of potential renters. Twitter’s search feature also allows housing providers to search for keywords such as “rental laws” and “COVID-19 regulations” to keep track of the constantly evolving situation.

What are Common Questions Asked during the Rental Process?

To give every applicant an equal opportunity, housing providers can ask questions and seek clarification to better understand their backgrounds. Some of these questions include “can you explain your low credit score?” or “can you explain why you only resided at this property for six months?”. Getting clarity on these questions not only gives the leasing agent peace of mind but also reassures the applicant that they are given every chance to secure a lease agreement.

Consider a Centralized Messaging System

Because showing rental properties continues to be a necessity during a “stay at home” order, all aspects of the rental transaction must be taken online. To reach out to potential tenants, housing providers call, send text messages or email, often over a span of a few business days, before the applicants are fully vetted. RentSpree’s online tenant screening service reduces this timeline from days to minutes and consolidates major components of a renter’s profile in one place. Housing providers can leverage RentSpree’s new messaging feature to communicate with applicants from the dashboard directly, which prevents use of multiple communication channels.

How to Use RentSpree’s Messaging Feature

Housing providers can now send secured messages to potential tenants and other housing providers directly from their RentSpree dashboard. All you need is the recipient’s email address. Once the message is sent, each recipient will receive a message in their email account and all chat history will be saved in the left-hand tab. The Messaging feature eliminates clutter and allows for a secure channel between all parties, limiting liability especially in times of uncertainty.

Conclusion

The Coronavirus pandemic has rapidly changed how housing providers and tenants conduct rental transactions. As the business becomes virtual, proper communication between both parties becomes essential in successfully closing rentals. By exercising caution and leveraging key virtual tools, housing providers and tenants can continue their relationship safely and effectively. RentSpree is committed to facilitating communication between housing providers and tenants by streamlining the rental application process.

RentSpree is the preferred, online tenant screening provider of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles. With it, you can put together a completed application package in one simple step. This includes a completed rental application, credit report and score, criminal background check, and national eviction history. RentSpree can handle the entire screening process for you and it takes just two minutes to start screening! Better yet, you can receive all reports back instantly at the property or at another time of your choosing. Visit https://aagla.rentspree.com to learn more.