[niknah]

I've had an ad out for a few days and 15+ people contact me, I reply to all of them but they almost never reply back and so far only 1 has visited.

Am I doing something wrong or is this normal?

[Bluey]

Normal. It's common for people to register an interest in many properties in the same way people submit multiple applications for jobs - a kind of scatter gun approach, to give them some kind of back up and contingency. This means a very high level of timewasting on the part of those trying to find tenants (but is a 2 way street as tenants may have to apply to many landlords before getting a viewing).

Pennant the Tenant and I have discussed the fact that tenants tend to be active browsers rather than do'ers - they seem to not like their present accommodation but not bother to do much about remedying it.

Also, there is this persistant belief that there is a mythical better quality, cheaper place out there if only they continue looking so some get locked into a cycle of registering an interest but never viewing, or viewing a property but then say they have others to view (again and again).

It takes just 2 seconds to email a reply - there's no real investment in it, it's just speculative.

Perhaps it's better (or perhaps not as you can get bothered by agencies) to advertise a phone number so you can guage the real level of interest through discussion, rather than email which is a little less personal.

You should have an idea of the type of tenant you are looking for (basic tenant screening) and a list of questions that you want to ask them to screen them in or screen them out before they come for viewing. Perhaps this also gives you an opportunity to sell your accommodation to them and tempt them, as well as identify the timewasters.

My landlord friends won't advertise on the Gumtree as they would clearly advertise for certain types of tenants but be inundated with enquiries by those that didn't fit the criteria. They despaired, not at the level of enquiries, but why huge groups of students seeking short-term accommodation would even bother to phone an ad that stipulated a maximum of 3 working tenants for a long-term tenancy.

Good luck.

[man u fan]

hi wat kind of property have you got and wat area is it in ?

[Pennant The Tenant]

90% of people who ring up about a property on Gumtree dont actually know what there looking for. When they view the property they will look for something to pick up on, just to get out. example. The kitchen/bathroom/ is too small. Thing is if the kitchen/bathroom was any bigger you couldnt afford it, so what your looking at is all you can afford. Your renting because you cant afford to buy. What you want to buy you cant afford and this is the whole problem. Dont forget the most famous line potential tenants will use "we have other places to see"

[niknah]

I agree pennant, that's exactly what happened with my one and only visitor. Told me it was too far from work, they didn't even look at the map before coming?

manu: It's a 1 bedroom share in cbd, they get the bedroom, I'm in the living room, I don't mind short term people.

Thanks heaps bluey! Helped me understand the mentality of these people. When I was a tenant I would visit most places I applied for but that was before internet.

I guess it's a process of weeding out the lazy bums, which is great!

[Pennant The Tenant]

[Bluey]

[niknah]

Thanks, found someone the other day.

Yes, I agree it's not a popular shared housing situation. My previous flat mate didn't mind, he even asked if it would be available in a few months when he was back in town, I guess it depends on the type of person.

I mentioned all the details in the ad, they all contacted me once but most didn't reply back after that first contact.