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Step 1
Get permission to show the apartment beforehand. Cities all over the country do things differently. In Chicago, renters secure apartments about two months before move-in date. Cities like Chicago have laws that require you to give current renters 48 hours notice before you show the apartment. Make sure you get this permission. Getting permission is less important in cities like Denver, where renters do not lease apartments until two weeks of move-in. In these cases, the previous renter has already moved out.
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Step 2
Try the key before you show an apartment to a client. Nothing is worse than wasting your client's time by dragging him to an apartment you cannot open.
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Step 3
Get to know your client. Before you show an apartment, ask your client about his needs. Some people love to cook. Others have a California King-sized bed. Still others have large dinette sets. Once you know what a person is looking for, you tailor your comments to his needs.
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Step 4
Point out the positive points of an apartment. There is always something positive that can be said about an apartment, even if it lacks large amenities such as a dishwasher and laundry room. If your client enjoys cooking, point out the long counter space. If your client has a big screen TV, help her visualize where it would fit in a room.
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Step 5
Always turn on the lights before you let a client into a room. This will help to give your client the best possible view of a space. It will also help to form a positive impression.
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Step 6
Take your client back to your office, sit her down and ask her directly if she would like to sign a lease for the apartment you've shown. Even if your client did not seem enthusiastic about the apartment, she may be tired of looking around or she may be reserved. You won't know unless you ask.
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Step 7
Be friendly and polite. Many apartments are exactly alike. Sometimes the only difference is the person showing the apartment. If a client likes you, he will want to buy an apartment from you.
