When do renters look for rentals?

Rental viewing and scheduling software ShowMojo just published data that provides more insight into how and when their users look at rentals and submit showing appointments. There are three key findings:

#1: Many Renters View Listings and Request Showings Outside of Standard Business Hours

When viewing listings, 41% occurred after 7 p.m. local time. When using a self-serve scheduling feature to book their own showings, 32% of renters submitted their appointments between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. local time.

#2: Renters Are Using Their Mobile Devices More Than Ever

According to the report, “Approximately two-thirds of pre-scheduling (searching and viewing listings) and scheduling activity (submitting an appointment) were by a desktop or laptop, while the remaining third was by mobile device (smartphone or tablet). In sharp contrast, almost 3 out of 4 individuals use their mobile device for post-scheduling activity (reviewing the listing, rescheduling, canceling or confirming).”

#3: The First Part of the Week is the Busiest for Showings

Again, “The general trend for viewing listings showed greater activity on Mondays followed by a gradual by consistent descent throughout the week. Scheduling activity was also greater on Mondays and Tuesdays. It descended slightly each day until Sunday, then returned to its Monday peak. On the weekends, overall scheduling and viewing behavior was less.”

What does this mean for property managers? There seem to be a few clear takeaways:

• Be available to field showing requests (via email and phone) in the evenings, especially early in the week.
• Make sure your website is working properly so it can be accessed 24/7.
• Check out your mobile site to ensure it’s providing the best experience for would-be renters.

You can download the full ShowMojo report here.