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The Pros and Cons of Self-Guided Property Tours

Irving Tenants Touring a Potential Rental HomeIf you’re in the market for a new rental home, you understand that touring the units is a key aspect of finding that perfect fit. But trying to arrange showings with Irving property managers can be a stressful experience, especially in our busy lives. Advances in digital technology have brought us listings with numerous photos and even virtual walk-throughs, but these tools sometimes aren’t sufficient to get a full sense of the property. This is the reason 83% of renters prefer self-guided property tours over all other options. There are undoubtedly many advantages to self-guided rental home tours, but there are a few drawbacks as well. Considering the advantages and pitfalls before picking a self-guided tour during your Irving rental home search is vital.

Pros

Self-guided tours are preferable for many renters because of the benefits they offer people with heavy schedules. Different from a traditional tour, where you would need to coordinate to meet a landlord or rental agent at the property, self-guided property tours are set up so you can access the property at your convenience. You request a convenient time slot, receive an access code, and then go to the property when you’re prepared. After you get a time slot, one more advantage is that you don’t need to think about other applicants showing up while you’re there. Due to security reasons, self-guided tours are never double-booked, which ensures you won’t have unpleasant encounters with people against whom you might end up competing for the same rental house.

Once you arrive at the property, many renters like you are free to explore the rental home without a landlord or rental agent looking over your shoulder. There is no reason to feel pressed for time or to hide your honest reaction to the property should you not like it. Furthermore, some renters prefer not to have someone there trying to ask personal questions or make them feel like they have to decide promptly. Few people want to be rushed into decisions, especially not ones as big as where you will be living for the next few months or years.

Cons

Naturally, self-guided property tours come with some disadvantages as well. Before you are granted access to a property, the probabilities are that the leasing office will first ask you to complete an application or a quick screening check. If you don’t pass these checks for some reason, there’s little hope of ever entering the front door. You may not even know why you are denied unless the landlord or leasing agent is willing to clarify it.

Another potential drawback to self-guided rental house tours is that you cannot ask questions while going through the property. Even though you can always text or email someone about it afterward, you may have questions during the tour that you forget to ask later. You may also miss out on learning a lot of helpful information about the neighborhood, nearby amenities, etc. This is a piece of information that a professional Irving landlord or leasing agent should be able to provide when you visit a property. Without company, you may not know about these things until much later in your search process.

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which type of property tour works for you. While both traditional and self-guided tours have pros and cons, you can still use them to your advantage until you discover your next rental home. If you’re seeking a new place to live, Real Property Management MidTown offers flexible touring options for great homes near you. You can view our listings online.

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