- 89% of renters said they require a tour before signing a lease.
- Some Rent. clients with tour capabilities see up to 5x higher quality leads.
- Renters wanted flexible tour types, flexible tour times, and automated scheduling most.
- Automated schedulers like Tour Calendar allow renters to schedule any type of tour anytime the property team has available.
Tours are a pivotal time for property teams. This is a time where your property has undivided attention to show renters that they’ve found the right home, with the right amenities, and friendly staff. Better yet, renters are likely rooting for your community to be their perfect place so they can end the often challenging search for an apartment.
New research from our 2023 Renter Preference report sheds light on how to book more tours and convert quality renter leads. We’ll cover not only why tours are critical for maintaining occupancy at your property, but how to book more tours and offer the perfect experience for renters at your community.
Why tours are essential
Not providing the right tour at the right time can cost properties leases. While renter preferences may differ on many factors during the apartment search, tours are a widely accepted necessity. In the survey, a whopping 89% of renters said they require a tour before signing a lease.1
How apartment tours drive conversion
Landing a tour multiplies your property’s chance at a quality lead to a lease. Some Rent. clients with tour capabilities see up to 5x higher quality leads than clients without tour capabilities.1 Similarly, most renters only tour a place once and apply that same day. That’s a powerful opportunity for leasing teams.
It’s no surprise that tours drive quick action. At this stage in the process, renters have often already vetted the property’s floorplans, amenities, fees, pet policies, etc. and are hoping that this tour is a winner. Whether it’s a virtual tour, live video or in-person, getting renters engaged to see the specific unit should be a primary focus.
Flexibility matters
Flexibility in both tour types and times is essential. When asked what they want most when touring, renters shared that flexible tour types, flexible tour times, and automated scheduling were at the top of the list.
So what are the optimal tour times and types? Data has shown that this varies based on day of the week and life stage.
Most wanted apartment tour times
Overall, renters shared a slight preference for weekend tour times (55%), and 45% of renters opted for weekdays. When looking into touring times, results also varied at different points in the week. On weekends, renters preferred afternoon (39%) and morning (35%) times. On weekdays, afternoon (34%) and evening (29%) times were most popular.
Lifestage also determines desired tour times. Data shows that full-time workers look for weekday evening tour times or weekend morning tours. Conversely, retirees and part-time employees often look for weekday afternoon tours.
Most favored types of apartment tours
In-person tours are still the most favored option, with six-in-ten renters preferring on-site visits. However, 31% of renters said they wanted both an online tour and in-person tour for apartments they’re interested in.
Fifty-seven percent of renters shared that 3D tours were very/extremely helpful when learning about a property. Renters under age 34 were significantly more likely to use 3D tours and automated tour scheduling when narrowing down properties, compared to other age groups.
How to book more apartment tours
Good timing, the right setting and automation are the three factors renters want most from property tours. To boost conversion, find solutions that have all three of these aspects to make the booking process easy for renters. It’s also important that solutions are also flexible for property teams to ease friction in the leasing process.
Automated schedulers like Tour Calendar allow renters to schedule a tour anytime, day or night, based on the availability your property provides. Maximize your presence by having tour schedulers available on your listings as well as your property site. Automated, built-in confirmations and reminders tailored to tour type can also smooth out communication and prevent no-shows.
References:
1Rent. internal data, May 2023
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Now available on all RentMarketplace. Packages! Tour Calendar efficiently manages your leasing calendar and enables renters to instantly schedule the tour of their choice.
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