As most of us do, I advertise heavily on Zillow and its network of sites. However, nearly every respondent's email is an identical canned response wanting to tour the house. Even though the very first sentence in my ad tells them to answer the questions contained within this listing. It's an incredible rarity when somebody complies.

I have set up an automatic response to deal with these canned emails. However, I MIGHT have a 1% return rate providing the information that I request.

Am I asking too many questions or are these people just screening themselves out because they're just (A) Lazy or (B) know they wouldn't pre-qualify?

Here's my automatic reply:

Hello

Thank you for your interest in XXXXXX in XXXXXX, VA.

In order for us to schedule a showing, please first answer the following pre-qualification questions:

Reason for Moving:

Number of People to occupy the property and their relationship to you:

Are you currently in a lease? If so, when does it expire:

Current rent amount:

Number of times rent has been paid late in the past 24 months:

Intended Rental Term:

Desired Occupancy Date:

Number of and type(s) of pet(s):

Number of Smokers (please specify if they smoke inside/outside):

Credit score(s) for each adult to reside at premises:

Do you have a landlord Reference?:

Your Occupation(s):

Length(s) of employment:

Monthly gross household income:

Have you ever owned a home?:

If you've already answered these questions, our property manager will contact you to schedule a showing. If you would prefer to answer these questions via telephone or text, you may do so at (804)

XXX-XXXX.

That isn't the place to pre-screen. In fact, there is a chance that by seeing such an exhaustive list many who may be interested will not respond. Rarely do I even receive any other message..

If you want the pre-screening questions answered I suggest you respond to their email with your list of questions. Those really interested will respond back. I would also remove it from the ad on Zillow.

However, I do think you need to reduce the number of questions to maybe 5 at most. Few people will want to send all of that information to someone they've never met or even spoken to.

I ask these questions

How many adults?

YES/NO : any foreclosure, short sale, bankruptcy, eviction, repo

Pets? Dog breed?

Source and amount of income?

Here is a copy of mine. I email it, text it, or ask it during a phone call.

Here you go:

Hello, thank you for contacting us regarding places for rent. We have many different places in different areas. Please answer the following questions so we can better assist you in your search.

What area are you looking to live in?

How many bedrooms do you need?

What types of pets will you have in the home with you?

What price range are you looking to rent in?

How soon do you need to move?

What is your reason for moving?

Are you looking for a 1 year lease or month to month?

Do you have 1st months rent and security deposit available needed to move in?

What is your contact phone number?

Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions. In order for us to help you quickly, please answer all questions provided. Incomplete questionnaires will not be accepted.

Thank you, NE-PA Office

Same here....100 click "I'm SUUUUUPER interested and would like more information." When all the info is in the ad. I responded to a Zillow survey asking for ways to improve the site. I said, "Let landlords make it a requirement to answer certain questions before they can click the SUUUUUPER interested button." Not holding my breath...

Anyway, I have a canned response, "Thank you for your interest. We can schedule a showing any time that is convenient. Let me know what works."

Jason,

We copy/paste the same reply to every request, inviting them to see photos and video walktrhu and complete a free application on our website..

We do NOT hive out the lockbox code until we have pre-screened the app.

This has reduced our time and fristration enormously.

BRAD

**GIVE**

We post on FaceBook, Zillow, and all it's partner sites, giving most of the details of the property, including that we have an app fee, and each person 18 and over must fill out an application, and be listed on the lease. But we don't ask any real questions that they need to answer.

We get a lot of "is this still available"? We respond, "yes it is; please call xxx-xxx-xxxx to schedule an appointment".

They never call.

I think some people have way too much time on their hands, just clicking through stuff to clog up the message center.

Like some, I do the calling (after first checking our online Marshals Service and clear those out who have former evictions). In many cases I get a voice mail and leave a message; rarely do I get a call back from these.

When I do get an actual person they typically have to be reminded of my ad because, of course, they have responded to many on these sites. That's when the screening begins.

Jason: We too had your exact experience this past Summer.

Since that time I have seen many MANY posts here with the exact same experiences. Its surprising...but not shocking.

what I did get from it was that we, like you had too many questions in that response email/contact.

It was frustrating. when I brought it here I got schooled & shortened it up...A lot.

Funny thing is: it did not really help. Still got almost the same amount of crummy inquiries and no replies to almost any follow up [by us].

As Summer waned and on the last 3 weeks before it finally got rented we had around a half dozen that were actually getting better with replies & follow-up.

We got the scammer rant twice and one was when in close quarters in the basement the hubby failed the smell test....ciggy's. Wife was livid.

Another issue was BS tax returns 3 times...all from a certain ethnic group who presented 1 yr. out of a request for min. 2 years of tax returns. What caught me on was with the second I picked up on the fact that they were somewhat "tailored" and then I found out that they were all from the same ghetto based "tax-prep" svc.

Ally

I don't understand how you interpret my questions to be accusatory of bad behavior or how they're insulting.

I'm not in the business of being nice. I've paid six figures out of my own pocket for the properties these applicants wish to call home. I'm offended and insulted when I regain possession of said properties and find them to be trashed or torn up. I'm insulted when I have to evict a tenant that I should have weeded out with proper pre-screening.

Interestingly enough, I've found that the majority of people that voluntarily answer these questions without being prompted are the rare gems with a 700+ FICO. Why? Because they take pride in their reputation. Not because they find my intrusiveness insulting.

Bottom line is that if they get their feelings hurt from my pre-screening questions, then they get their feelings hurt. They'll get over it. But it saves me the stress and cost of an eviction and/or a costly turnover.

If having strict requirements keeps my properties open for 30 or even 60 days longer than the competition, I'll still sleep fine at night. I'd rather have no tenant than just any tenant.

To everybody else, I agree that I'll take these questions out of my ad and simply roll it into a telephone conversation. It's easier to catch them off guard that way anyways.

I have 5 questions on my prescreening:

--How much are you paying right now?

--When do you need to move?

--Total monthly income?

--Any pets?

--Any smokers?

If everyone’s take rate is so poor through online sources (Zillow, Trulia, etc), how are you filling vacancies? Old school sign in the yard?

I have one opening now that I’ve had a hard time gaining interest beyond the Zillow looky loo’s. Never had an issue before.

Bill, Zillow & FB generate more inquiries than any other I source that I know of. The conversion rate is very, very low. It is what it is.

I used to advertise in newspapers, then cl, I always included my phone # and the sole purpose of my ad was to get a phone reply, then set a showing appointment, then an application, then a lease signing. Nowadays, the process works without me fielding calls and serving as doorman.