i bought a duplex (!)

Showing the apartment that you’re living in…

I listed my place on Craig’s list last Sunday, and have had 5 showings so far (no applications yet…) At each of the first showings, I introduced myself as the owner, described the remodeling work that’s been done to the apartment, mentioned that I had been living there (thus facilitating the remodeling), and was moving out. If they asked why I was moving, I told them I was going to be living with my boyfriend, otherwise I would be staying, it’s a great apartment. I realized, though, after a couple of showings, that this situation might actually be weirding some of them out… A couple of people asked if they should take off their shoes; one asked if they could look in the cupboards, and everyone said goodbye and thank you in the living room — expecting me to stay there after the showing (after all, that’s where I live.) While from my perspective, I can see that having the owner recently living in your apartment would be a good thing (i.e. most problems have been identified and fixed), from their perspective I think it seemed like they were in a stranger’s house. Instead of looking at a neutral apartment, with a relatively detatched landlord, they were now faced with the prospect of renting someone’s home. Someone’s recently remodeled, painted, refinished, very clean home… a place that they might never feel like is their home, because they’re too worried about scratching the floor or getting it dirty.

Just a theory, of course, but I felt like it was worth it to change the mailing address on the applications to my office address. At the last showing, I waited for the new tenants outside the duplex (like always), but then simply didn’t disclose that I lived there. I even gave a quick knock on the door to the apartment before going in. I think that they did seem a bit more comfortable checking the place out and envisioning themselves there; it probably made me seem more like a legitimate landlord too. I walked them outside afterwards, and got in my car and drove away (and took a walk in a park nearby before going back home). No applications yet; they were looking at one more place this week… Either way, I feel better about showing the apartment this way. Let’s see if it works!

Related Articles:

• The apartment is officially for rent
• Big changes ahead -- moving from "owner-occupied duplex" to just "duplex"
• Sorry, I have a maximum of 3 people for that unit
• Showing the apartment
• Here come the craig's list scams again...
• Apartment showings = time
• Apartment showings--six in one day!
• Advertisting (and the traffic counter miracle of 2006)
• My ad is up, I'm getting inquiries. I never realized that there were so many, er, interesting people in the world.

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Entry Filed under: Showing the Apartment, The Rental Market, Turnovers
Technorati Tags: perspective applications remodeling address facilitating detatched disclose envisioning apartment showing renting renting apartment rental home renting your home landlord tenant duplex rental apartment