What I check on-site when there is interest but no decision
There is interest.
Inquiries are not zero.
Yet, no decision is made.
I believe this situation is the most painful phase for an owner.
It is because it is difficult to see 'what is wrong'.
However, as far as I can see on-site,
there is still hope as long as there is interest.
At the very least, it is in a state of 'being seen'.
All that is left is to organize where things are stalling, one by one.
At our company, we do not suddenly change the rent in such cases.
First, we check the following points in order.
Is the interest coming from the 'people you want to attract'?
Even if there is interest,
if the target is off, a decision will not be made.
For example,
getting only inquiries from singles for a family-oriented apartment.
Getting many inquiries for double occupancy for a single-person unit.
In this case, more than the conditions,
it is almost always the direction of the photos or the listing description that is off.
'Who is this property for?'
Is that being communicated properly?
This is what I look at first.
If there are few viewings, it is stalling at the photos and listing description
There are inquiries, but no viewings.
In this case, it is almost certainly because
there is not enough of a 'reason to go see it'.
The photos are dark.
There are too few of them.
The appeal of the room is not being conveyed.
The listing description also
ends with just a description of the facilities,
and does not evoke an image of living there.
A viewing is an action that takes time.
If the reason to take that step is not visible,
it will inevitably be put on the back burner.
If there are viewings but no decision, look at the reasons for rejection
They have come for a viewing.
Yet, no decision is made.
Once it reaches this stage,
the cause is quite specific.
・It was darker than expected ・There was not enough storage ・The surrounding environment was a concern ・The impression of the water area was weak ・They are hesitating between this and other properties
These reasons for rejection
can often be obtained from the management company or brokerage firm.
(If they cannot be obtained, we ask them to ensure they are.)
If you understand the reason,
the countermeasures will naturally narrow down.
Do you know who you are being compared to?
When a decision isn't made,
the prospective tenant is almost certainly comparing it to other properties.
If you try to take countermeasures without knowing who that competitor is,
you will inevitably miss the mark.
・Is the competitor newer?
・Is it closer to the station?
・Are the initial costs lower?
・Are the photos more compelling?
Rather than chasing where you can't win,
clearly communicate the points where you can win.
At our company, we place importance on this.
Is it stalling due to initial costs rather than rent?
When there are inquiries but no decisions,
it is often the case that the initial costs, not the rent, are the bottleneck.
Key money, free rent, lock replacement, cleaning.
These areas are
easier to adjust than lowering the rent,
and the impact is limited.
Therefore,
lowering the rent is the last resort.
This is a shared mindset on-site.
Finally
When there are inquiries but no decisions,
it's easy to feel impatient.
However, rather than making big changes,
untangling the points where things are stuck one by one
often leads to a faster decision in the end.
If people are looking, there is potential.
That is precisely why, before lowering the rent,
you should calmly organize 'where it is stalling'.
This is
the order of priority we value at our company.