New vacancy. So yesterday morning I listed on FB and Zillow. I was getting so many request for showings. Instead of trying to prescreen everyone, I decided to just offer everyone a chance to attend open house today, I gave a small two hour window for them to stop by. So far I have gotten over 60 confirmations that they are coming today. I am still getting request for showings . By the way this is looking , I may have over 75 or so confirmations. I know at least half of them won’t show, but I still will have a house full. In the past I have always scheduled tours at 15 minutes apart. I had my wife make me a name tag. Any other suggestions or tips on how to handle so many people in such a short time frame. After 15 years of landlording, these large numbers will be a first for me. --75.141.xxx.xxx

You will have a lot of no shows and you are very unlikely to remember who is who if you end up with a stack of applications. --174.216.x.xxx

Hand out applications that you have photocopied and pretend you are not the owner. --73.178.xxx.xx

Thanks Oregon. My first window was only for an hour, once I saw I was going to have a problem, I started giving out the second hour time frame. I may have to ad a third hour and give that one out today . Just didn’t want to sit over there all afternoon. --75.141.xxx.xxx

Gail --71.203.xx.xx

Have a small jar of gum or jelly beans or something and a balloon or two...make it fun and inviting. --99.92.xxx.xxx

With that many inquiries are you sure you’re not significantly under market in your rent? --24.147.xx.xxx

That many responses makes me think you need to raise the rent and start over --72.231.xxx.xxx

Hoosier, great ideas. I really like the attendance sheet. As for the others being under market. You are correct. I own 10 houses in this neighborhood. They are renting for 1375 to 1425. Next door to this house is the neighbor from he!!. I also own the house right on the other side of her. I discount both of these houses just because of her. I advertised showing there was a difficult neighbor. I did discuss this with my attorney, so I don’t say something I shouldn’t. I have an open records request that I did, which shows over 100 calls to 911 and animal control over the past 5 years. Couldn’t get open records from code compliance , they don’t record who complained, but she also calls clode a lot.... yes, under market, and as per attorney, I will have them sign a doc stating they are aware of neighborhood problem. --75.141.xxx.xxx

--98.146.xxx.xxx

But all of the above advice was excellent. Good luck and let us know how this big event goes. --50.45.xxx.xx

Take a extra dose of patience. Good luck --74.105.xxx.xxx

We've experienced the same thing here, 50 people answering an ad agree to show up to a 2 hour open house. Our rents are market price not low. We find it best to have at least two of us working the open house, one inside to watch everything and answer questions, one outside because many applicants don't remember to ask for the address, the Craigslist ad gets them close and they wander around looking for the house. Out of 50 we see 20 show up. Usually find a group standing on the porch 10 minutes before the open house starts. Having multiple people show up at the same time creates a feeding frenzy. Everyone asks for an application, a handful sit and fill it out on the spot turning it in with money in hand. We tell everyone that we don't treat applications in the order they are received, open house applications are all treated as if they were received at the same time. Gives us a chance to pick the best candidate without tying our hands and lets good candidates take their time to collect good information. Two hours is plenty of time for an open house, we find people showing up in late in the second hour are generally less qualified. There is always someone that wants to schedule a different time, either earlier or a different day. Usually PITAs, hold firm on the open house date and tell them you will notify them of the next scheduled open house - we generally don't need to schedule a second one but it makes them go away. --72.95.xxx.xx

Whoa...your asking rent is too low...adjust and start over. --73.158.xxx.xxx

--75.141.xxx.xxx

To go along with the idea of the attendance sheet at an Open House, also ask for email address. --100.4.xx.xxx

--71.203.xx.xx

The sold may be your biggest help, now raise the price 300bux and start with better people who will not burn out your screen with the stupid questions. But at least you have a list of names that may not afford your place. --76.188.xxx.xx

I've had applicants offer to pay me substantially more than the advertised price. They say they don't care what the rent is, they will take it. Never mind that if they pay the advertised price that will only leave them $300 a month left to live on. That's not proof the asking price is too low. --174.216.xx.xxx

I have been getting an ever increasing number of inquiries on my units. They are priced accordingly and very well maintained. Narrowing the pool down has been crucial - very clear ad info with some basic criteria stated, clear pre-screening questions with some important criteria spelled out (you miss any questions or have the wrong answers your done), respond to my invitation to a viewing at my convenience (you can't make my time than I may contact you if we don't rent the unit), before the viewing send out a very clear and extensive information sheet about the property that deals with all the questions you can think of, reiterates the criteria, and explains how to obtain an application (email only), respond to my confirmation text the morning of the viewing (that's when they finally get my phone #), clearly state on your application that you do review applications that have omissions, are illegible, do not have verifiable information, or do not have all necessary supporting documents (proof of residency, income verification etc). --71.174.xx.x