For a couple weeks, I had put up a sign with just my web address, no phone # - as an experiment. FAILED. Crickets.

Put a sign with phone number back up, and got 7 calls in 2 days.

They all go to voicemail that encourages them to visit website, but nearly every one says they didn't go to it, usually that they have no access to internet. That just seems so hard to believe that they can't get online these days.

Like their friend will let them crash on the couch, but not use their internet to find a place to move out too?

Anyway, better to go old-school on the phone, listening to stories, than to have empty rooms trying to be more automated. Still want to find a way to streamline things as much as possible, though.

If the ad is online, the tenant has access to the internet or he wouldn't have seen the ad. So access to the internet is not the issue.

My opinion is that internet scams are more numerous than legitimate offerings. Myself, I won't open any website that I am not certain what it is. Rental housing is an enormous scam area so it is an area where caution should be used.

DJ, this topic is interesting to me. Funny, they just opened up a 200 unit apartment building right down the road from us. I was curious about the units and their pricing, etc. A giant banner was up, reading "NOW RENTING' and a phone number. I was totally looking for a website where I could conveniently look up all the information, but NO. No website information anywhere to be found.

DJ, usually, I run ads in craigslist with instructions for them to text me. I used to put a sign up on the building, but stopped doing that because I didn't find it all that helpful. Once they reach out for me, I handle all the pre-screening by text. I like doing that as it ensures that I ask everyone the same questions and helps me keep things straight. I usually don't talk to them until I meet them at the showing and I have a short application they complete at that time. Usually, only a few folks get to a showing.

I have many who never respond to the pre-screening questions. My thought is that they can't deal with the questions and know they're disqualified. I actually tested this one day with someone who contacted me via FB. I was able to run his name and see he had felonies but I sent him the pre-screening questionnaire anyway. He didn't respond.