Basics of Property Management: Screening Potential Tenants
Selling Your Home? Make It Look Great With Modern Technology
Jesse Obrien
Today's homeowners have access to technology that can help them get a great price and sell their home quickly. Are you taking advantage of modern options that could boost your return? If you're not sure, consider these five popular, and potentially free, ways to integrate technology into helping potential buyers visualize your property.
1. Better Photos. The time when you could take a few quick snaps of your house's interior to appeal to customers is over. Today's buyers expect good quality photos and visuals. The good news is that, even without a professional photographer, agents and homeowners can take nearly professional photos even with average equipment. Let your phone or camera help you find the right lighting and focus. You can also do touch-ups using free or built-in editing features.
2. Virtual Tours. One way to help people learn more about your home is to offer a free virtual 'tour' of the interior. You can do this in a variety of ways depending on what your agent offers and what your own skills are. Even a simple video walk-through captured on your phone gives people a better feel for certain areas. For a more professional result, consider working with a video editor or web designer who can construct a 3D model of the home.
3. Social Media. Your real estate agent is likely already using social media to sell homes, so take advantage of these services. Many younger buyers, in particular, spend more time on social media platforms than on other sites and so are more likely to find you that way. You can also add your own social network connections to the effort by self-advertising through your accounts and your own network.
4. Smart Home Features. Is your home 'smart'? So-called smart home elements help present your property at its best not matter where you are. If you're not at home when a buyer wants to come to look at the house, you can turn on the right lights, cool down the house, or even turn on some background music right from your own phone. Automated landscape controls keep the property looking great. And you can even communicate directly with your agent during the home tour from anywhere in the world.
Are you utilizing all that modern technology has to offer in order to speed up your home sale? Start by talking with your real estate agent about what they use and how you can partner to ensure that your property has its best chance.
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For the last several years, I've used a property management firm to help with my rental properties. One of the tasks that they handle for me is screening applicants who would like to move into one of my vacant units. Their expertise has helped me lower my tenant turnover and find people who want to stay with me for years. Part of the process is a tenant screening credit check. Before any further contact takes place, my manager orders credit reports from at least two agencies. That is enough to tell us if an applicant is a good financial risk. Assuming the references work out, I meet the candidate and make the final decision. If you own rental properties, let me tell you more about the benefits of having a property manager. I'm betting you'll find this type of arrangement will work for you too.