The Pros and Cons of Self-Guided Property Tours

If you are on the hunt for a new rental home, you probably already know that touring the units is a big part of finding that perfect fit. However, trying to arrange showings with Boerne property managers can be a tricky experience, especially in our busy lives. Advances in digital technology have brought us listings with lots of photos and even virtual walk-throughs, but these tools sometimes aren’t enough to get a full sense of the property. Maybe because 83% of renters prefer self-guided property tours over all other options. There are definitely a lot of advantages to self-guided rental home tours, but there are a few drawbacks as well. Taking into account the pros and cons prior to selecting a self-guided tour during your Boerne rental home search is important.

Pros

Self-guided tours are preferable for many renters because of the benefits they offer people with busy schedules. Unlike a traditional tour, where you would need to arrange to meet a landlord or rental agent at the property, self-guided property tours are built so you can access the property at your convenience. You request a convenient time slot, accept an access code, and then go to the property when you’re ready. As soon as you have a time slot, another advantage is that you don’t need to worry about other applicants showing up while you’re there. Due to security reasons, self-guided tours are never double-booked, which guarantees you won’t have unpleasant encounters with people against whom you might end up competing for the same rental house.

Once you are at the property, countless renters like that you are free to explore the rental home without a landlord or rental agent looking over your shoulder. There is no need to feel pressed for time or to hide your honest reaction to the property should you not like it. Additionally, some renters enjoy not having someone there trying to ask divulging questions or make them feel like they need to decide on the spot. 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 a few disadvantages as well. Before being given access to a property, the prospect is that the leasing office will first ask you to complete an application or a quick screening check. If you do not pass these checks for some reason, there’s little hope of ever moving in the front door. You may not even know why you are denied unless the landlord or leasing agent is willing to talk about it with you.

One more potential drawback to self-guided rental house tours is that you cannot ask questions while going through the property. Although you can always text or email someone about it later, you may have questions during the tour that you forget to ask later. You might also miss out on learning a lot of helpful information about the neighborhood, nearby amenities, etc. These are things that a professional Boerne landlord or leasing agent ought to be able to tell you when you examine a property. If no one is there with you, you may not know about these things until much later in your search process.

In due course, it is up to you to decide which type of property tour works for you. Although both traditional and self-guided tours have pros and cons, you can always use them to your advantage until you find your next rental home. If you’re on the search for a new place to live, Real Property Management Hill Country offers flexible touring options for great homes near you. You can view our listings online.