I am having problems with prospects wasting my time. They contact me through zillow and I call them and sometimes they answer and sometimes I leave a message. If I have to leave a voice message I also reply back to them by email. I usually thank them for there interest and then give them my name and number to call me and I also refer them to my webpage which gives them a link to it automatically when I put it in.I do not have my phone number listed on the add because I did not want a bunch of robo calls. When I get an answer when I call I try to set up a time a little ahead to meet them so I can get as many people as possible at one time. When I leave a voice mail or email I usually do not get a response back but sometimes someone will call back. I have been having people show up usually late,except for the more qualified one,but still they comment how they like the house then take an application to fill out and maybe other forms like cosigner and the I never here from them again so now I have a waste of money and time. I am think of telling them on the phone to give me there email address and I will send them a copy of forms needed(of course I have to learn how to do that first),and then when they get them filled out and have other documents needed to process application then they can email them back to me and then we can set up a showing. At that time if they like the house and want to move forward then I can get the app fee from them and proceed from there,then the paper and ink and some time is on there dime.I also am going to try and work some more on my add,it just takes me forever. Thank you all for any advice or suggestions you can give.

Have you tried doing pre-screening by email only and then calling them? That's what I do.

I get some very basic information. Full names of all adults, move date, type of pets.

Then I look up the adults' names in the public records. Many get weeded out, usually due to prior evictions.

At that point I'll get their number and call them. They usually answer and I do a final bit of pre-screening and then set up a showing grouped close to other showings in time.

Search tool at the top of the page.

"Automate screening"

Go digital. Text or email them a prescreen questionnaire. Wait for them to respond. If they respond with the right answers, proceed to a showing. If they don't respond, who cares. Have them call 1/2 hr ahead of time to confirm. If they don't confirm, don't go to the house. Once you're there, wait 10 minutes. If they don't show, leave. If they show after you left, make them reschedule. If they don't call you 1/2 hr ahead

of time to confirm and go to the house instead, make them reschedule. They can't follow rules.

In my view, you must pre-screen people on the phone before you set up a showing to eliminate those whose move-in date is not compatible, who are not qualified financially or otherwise, or who have other issues that mean they are not a match for your property. I will not set up a showing until I've talked to prospect on the phone.

In addition, I require all prospects to give me their full name before I call them so I can look them up on case.net. That will reveal if they have issues (prior evictions, numerous collections) that will likely disqualify them from my property.

I try to schedule showings ASAP after the call, no more than a day later. Most people show up and are no more than 5 minutes late, probably because we've had a 10 minute phone call and there is more of a personal "connection".

Pre-screening calls are tedious but I know of no other way to avoid having my time wasted as little as possible. It works for me because I just have a couple properties. If I had multi-units, I'd probably automate my screening a lot more like many here do.

"You must develop a system from the second your advertising hits the market that carries all the way through to the lease signing."

So true...

Something else I do that helps me is to create blocks of text that I reuse in my emails. What minimum income is required to rent the house, what to bring with them to the showing if they want to apply (driver's license, etc). It saves me time and even if they don't read it they can't claim later that I wasted their time if they don't bring these items.

There are many renters that just click reply and you will end up with the "automated" response from the site (such as "I'm interested" or "please tell me more about this property" or whatever).

Have you also noticed that some of the tenants that you email aren't even supplying you with their correct email?

Just keep going forward with what you are doing. Also, other than Zillow, try using Zumper.com as it's free and it posts your ads to quite a few sites. You will still get the same people (or similar) people just clicking … but I've found that you do get hits.

Have your Zillow replies go to a dedicated email address. On that email account, set up an auto reply that sends them all of the information and forms they need and include a video walkthrough.

Also don’t schedule showings until they’ve pre qualified. In my auto response email, I send them a link to my questionnaire. I tell them in order to schedule a showing, the questionnaire must be completed. (And they only get a showing if they pass the pre screening).

I use a Google Form for pre-screening. I don't bother to reply other than to send the google form to people who email, FB message, or text me.

Once I see their answers, I answer or not. Most of my pre-applicants right now don't qualify. Either they don't make enough money (often) or they smoke (also often). I don't accept them unless they make 3 times the rent and don't smoke. I'm not going to provide the lock box code or arrange a showing unless they qualify via my pre-screening.

Another dodge today from someone who popped up on the court record research tool my state provides.

The pre-screen app they sent me gave me first middle, and last. I looked her up and found 4 charges of misdemeanor assault since 2016. Three counts of no-show for court dates. Restraining order filed and person ordered to complete "anger management" classes.

Her current living arrangements? "Living with significant other."

Her reason for moving? "Leaving significant other."

My guess? Anger management still an issue and significant other and/or his land lord is kicking her out. No thanks. Declined further contact.

Didn't quite make 3x the income either...about $100-$150/month short. I might have stretched a tad if everything else looked golden, but what do you think are the odds of that being the case?

To avoid wasting time, we need a system that allows us to quickly weed thru the piles of obviously unqualified folks. Narrow it down to the few who are decent, ready, and able, then spend your valuable time there. Check out step-by-step what I do using the Search option I mentioned above.

6x6...yes, if you use the "Search" tool above and change the year to 2018, you will find my post that is a step-by-step walk thru of exactly what I do.

You can simplify it though, since I think you only have a few units.

Here are the questions from my pre-screening form. You can copy/paste them into an email and require answers before scheduling any viewings.

1) First, middle & last name.

2) Email

3) Phone number

4) Address of house you'd like to view?

5) Household monthly income (must be able to document with pay stubs, bank statements, award letters, etc: "under the table" income does not count)

6) What is your current living situation: Rent from a private landlord or company; rent from friend or relative; living with friend or relative and paying no rent; I am a homeowner; Other (describe)

7) How soon are you ready to move?

Good luck!

Oops, forgot one question:

8) Reason for moving?

THIS one is priceless! I get the most interesting answers.

6x6, Screen x3. (Effort)

Never stop improving your (complete) screening skills.

Can you ask this question?

6x6 said: I will send them a copy of forms needed(of course I have to learn how to do that first

My library offers free computer classes and individual instruction. Check out your library or computer class at local college is available

6x6 said: How do you create blocks of text and then reuse them

Write the block of text in your word processor (like MS Word) and save it under a name like “blocks of text to use in email” then all you have to do is copy and paste. Have both your email and your word document open at the same time. click on word, highlight (using mouse, scroll over block of text you want to use. Then hold down control key and hit the C key. This makes a copy of the text. Then click your email icon. Place your cursor in email where you want the block of text and hold down control key and hit V. This paste the block of text into your email document. Try to learn at least one shortcut key stroke per day for a week. Google "short cut key stroks in (your word processor)

6x6 said: I am thinking about lowering my damage deposit to match the rent. NEVER. Always have them different even if just $5 different. Keeps tenant from saying I already paid last month’s rent.

6x6 said: We would like to ask you some prescreening questions. Change that to “We have some prescreening questions that must be answered before we can continue” or something similar

6x6 said: What are the full names of all the adults that will be living in the home? Full name should also include maiden name and any previous married names.

6x6 Said: I wasn't sure if I could go back and forth between pages. Sure you can. Ask a high school kid to show you how.

Nobody will answer each question if presented in a manner like that. They’ll answer what they want and leave off the rest. Create a google form with your questions and make the answers mandatory.

My screening process is similar to SID and Jason with out the automation. When I receive what I consider to be a serious inquiry from Zillow or the other sites I paste in 11 very carefully worded YES/NO questions.

When I receive the FULLY completed questioner from the potential tenant - About 10% of the inquiries - I then require references and a letter from their LL.