State Specific Question About: OREGON (OR)

I do lock box showings regularly,pre screen them on the phone with an app on my website. Saves an enormous amount of time going to showings that no one shows up for. I think more people go to the house for a lockbox showing then if you make an appointment.

You need to evaluate the risks you face if someone decides to help himself to your appliances and/or copper wiring. Theft and vandalism are real risks.

You also have to evaluate what would happen if someone decides to change the locks and take possession. Would your police department tell you "it is a civil matter" or would they arrest the squatter.

Another potential risk is for the person to himself show the property to others (thanks to the access you have given him) and collect deposits and rent on the place as if he was the landlord.

In some communities, lock box showings work. Brad will be along soon to tell you how wonderful it is in his community. Me, I wouldn't do it even after telephone screening.

Hi Jon. I no longer do lockbox showings. In the Portland metro area there are enough applicants for every vacancy and the competition between potential tenants can lead to some tense encounters if different parties are viewing the rental without supervision.

What Mike45 said.....

Jon, I'm at the far end of the spectrum. My method is not for the faint-hearted or for every neighborhood, but is good to review the concept and adapt it to YOUR temperament.

I have not shown a vacant unit in YEARS!

We prep the home - remove window AC, bolt range to the floor, turn off HVAC at the breaker AND the service switch, turn water heater to VACATION, shut off the water main, and remove all toilet paper to avoid temptation to use the toilet. (I used to leave the TP.

I had kids and know what it's like when they announce they have to go! But I found people were taking this as a sign to help themselves to unload a mountain.)

We put a lockbox on the front door with the code 0000. My website, the flyers in the sign pouch, the flyer taped inside the storm door, and the answering machine ALL give the Key Lockbox Code 0000 and encourage 24/7 Self Tours.

We have very little IF ANY problems other than the occasional clogged toilet and cigarette butts in the kitchen sink. We check the houses every few days for signage, flyers, litter, cobwebs, wet leaves tracked in...

If the house is ALMOST ready when we print the flyers, we write "Coming Soon. Showable when the lockbox is on the front door.

People LOVE IT! and our homes get rented without taking any of my time. I can drive by and see people going in while another group is walking out. I LOVE IT! Rent on!

I would never do it but not for the normal reasons listed of squatters, thieves, damage, etc.

I want to see, touch, taste, smell (well not really) these folks. BUT, I want to see them up close and personal.

I want to see who else shows up with them (you know, the young girl who is renting for herself only but the boyfriend is with here and there is a lot of "we can do this/that" conversation).

I want to watch those kids and see if they are running out of control or well behaved.

I want to checkout their demeanor and respectfulness of life in general.

While I don't peak in the car to see if it's clean, if their jacket and hands are filthy that is probably a "no" for me.

Since I don't know your States tenancy laws, I'm going to tell you about mine, California.

Thirty-Five years ago I'd use lockbox showings when Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley was the Aerospace capital of the world and families were as good as gold! This isn't the case anymore.

With so many people living from paycheck to paycheck and having too much credit card debt, it's no wonder there are so many homeless and people in financial need.

Here in California, especially Los Angeles, once a person has the "key" and access to a property -- they can hold legal possession if they know how to play the system. It can take less than $5.00 to arrange a single document that when the POLICE are called (SOMEONE IS LIVING IN MY RENTAL WITHOUT MY PERMISSION), the POLICE WILL DO NOTHING because it is now a civil matter.

The squatter has "KEY" and a "PIECE of Paper saying any number of things that will prohibit the police from arresting of making the squatter vacate.

I just did the first one.

It is an area where if someone moved in.....I could move them out to the curb.

I don't expect to do too many more in the future however another version of this is to leave a key with a local thrift store. Have a piece of paper where the person shows ID and signs that they are taking a key for the sole purpose of viewing and understand that they do not have possession.

I have the lock box because I change locks often and I want there to be access for some of the people who will lend me a hand. In my recent case, I sorta kinda knew who wanted to go see the place.

I would never do it. I want to meet the applicants, smell the applicants for traces of cigarette odor and look into their transportation . If their cars look like it is their second home I screen harder to reject.

I want to meet them. Some screen out great on the phone, then once they step out of the car, it's a totally different story. I did one lockbox showing that worked out ok. I'm just not comfortable with it.

I'm my gut screams, "Oh, please just get back in the car and leave!" They aren't getting the place.

I haven't met with a tenant in person for over 20 years (hundreds of tenants)

I works for me.

In the old days my sister and I used to meet them in person. I don't believe "looking people in the eye" tells you ANYTHING. My sis used to think so and so has many LL's I talked to,..that THEY were good at it. Most got burned with some of them but seemed to forget their failures and STILL think they are good at it.

BTW I always HATED that saying about people looking you "in the eye" are moe credible ....I don't do that very much myself. I think it has partly to do that I had hearing problems when I was young,..things sounded a bit muffled. you probably won't believe that going to a chiropractor a few times and my hearing is very acute (have a hard time with load noises and have to cover my ears at times. But I still seem to partly read lips or at least my gaze goes there. Habit? Idunno,..but like some of the Asian cultures that think its rude to look at peoplle's yes I dont.

Another BTW,..new study says when people lie a much higher percentage than truth tellers look you right in the eye.

Hollis - for me, the "looking them in the eye" is a generic phrase. I rent to the working poor - perhaps there is a difference in tenant pools. I want to hear the conversation between them. You cannot imagine what people will tell you ...and you don't need to pump them - they volunteer all kinds of info. I want to talk to them - we've all read on here about aggressive type personalities - you cannot screen that away with a credit score. I want to know if they are a nit picker, a nagger and a whiner ... if they complain about the current landlord's huge list of downfalls, etc. I don't necessarily care about fast food wrappers in the car but I do care about their personal hygiene... if they can't put on clean clothes and wash their face and hands to come for an appt. What about the one or two a year that show up clearly intoxicated ... at preset appts !!