Secretly Increasing Viewing Conversion Rates: 3 Items for Vacant Properties That Real Estate Agents Find Helpful
When we real estate agents take clients to view a property, there are times when we feel, 'Oh, this property will be easy to close on,' the moment we open the front door.
This isn't just because the room has been beautifully renovated. It's when there are 'little items' prepared in the vacant room that support both the client and us during the viewing.
Just having these items significantly improves the client's impression of the property and makes our sales presentation much smoother. Today, I will introduce three items that are truly helpful to have on-site.
The first is 'slippers.' No matter how well a vacant room has been cleaned, a thin layer of dust inevitably accumulates on the floor after a few weeks. The stress of potentially getting their socks dirty can distract clients from focusing on the viewing. Just having clean slippers lined up at the entrance gives clients a sense of security that they are 'welcome' and that the property is 'well-managed,' allowing them to look around the room at their leisure.
The second is a 'measuring tape.' The next thing a client who likes a room will always do is measure to see if their furniture and appliances will fit. Will the refrigerator width fit? What are the curtain dimensions? What is the size of the washing machine space? We agents carry them too, but if a measuring tape is left on a window frame or in the washing machine area, or if a paper with detailed dimensions already written on the floor plan is provided, clients can imagine their life after moving in more concretely. Properties that allow for a clear image of daily life lead directly to a contract.
The third is 'air fresheners or deodorizers.' As mentioned in a previous article, when a room is vacant for a long time, odors from sewage or mold tend to linger. In addition to regular ventilation to prevent this, having just one item with a subtle, fresh scent placed at the entrance or near the water fixtures can dramatically improve the first impression. Appealing to the sense of smell, not just sight, is extremely powerful.
All of these can be prepared for just a few hundred to a thousand yen. However, this small amount of thoughtfulness leads to the greatest trust, showing that 'the owner (or management company) truly cares about their tenants.'
We agents also naturally want to recommend properties with enthusiasm when clients react positively to them. As part of your vacancy countermeasures, please try incorporating these into your properties starting from the next listing.