Positioning Your Property Rental Business as Colorado Mandate Drops
Just this past week, Governor Jared Polis extended Colorado’s mask mandate (originally set to expire April 3) to mid-April. However, he also explained that starting mid-April, the state will hand over control of most COVID-19 restrictions, such as mask mandates, to local authorities. For those in property rental companies and management, here’s how to position your property rental business as state mandates drop or adjust.
Mask Mandates and Other Restrictions: Up to La Plata County/Durango
As of this writing, Durango requires face coverings, as outlined in City of Durango Order 2020-08; individuals must wear face coverings when entering or inhabiting any publicly accessible spaces, whether indoors or outdoors. La Plata County is adhering to health and safety guidelines as outlined in the state’s Safer at Home Order, and also the “Safer La Plata” order by San Juan Basin Public Health District. Basically, both orders allow essential businesses and services, such as grocery stores and construction, to remain open and in operation. Other businesses, such as non-critical retail and personal services, may remain open and operate, so long as they meet the requirements of public health orders PHO 20-24 and PHO 20-28; such businesses must self-certify that they have read and comply with all workplace requirements.
With Governor Polis’s announcement, however, decision-making and enforcement of mask mandates and capacity restrictions will now be up to Durango’s local government, beginning mid-April. As of this writing, it is unknown to the public as to what changes – of mandates being lifted, moderated, or left unchanged – Durango’s local government will make. For the latest updates and rules, visit https://www.durango.org/covid/ and https://sjbpublichealth.org/advisories-and-orders/.
What This Means for Property Rental Companies
By this point in the pandemic, companies are likely used to adapting to ever-changing COVID-19 levels, restrictions, and capacity rules. Keeping this sense of adaptability will help you navigate the upcoming phase of COVID-19 protocols, as decided by local authority.
For property management companies, you can provide ways to accommodate clients and tenants who want to do business as usual, and for those who prefer more options. This is crucial, as having a “one size fits all” set of accommodations can alienate clients, and even cause you to lose business. Having the right balance of accommodations not only maintains positive relations with current clients/ tenants, but also encourages new business and engagement.
Property Management and Business Accommodation in a COVID-19 World
For those who want to do business as usual – i.e., in-person interactions and showings – companies can require that tenants (prospective or current) wear a face covering during any such interaction. If you do, be sure to make them aware beforehand of such requirements. Landlords can go as far as having interested parties fill out and sign a waiver stating they do not exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms, and/or take temperature readings via contactless thermometer. Before and after a showing, high touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, faucets, light switches, counters, handles, etc., can be sanitized.
Virtual Business Methods
Virtual Showings
Virtual conference calls such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams are the new normal; if you haven’t used these methods to conduct business, you definitely should. Why? Virtual calls are an effective contactless business solution, perfect for clients who prefer little in-person contact. Property rental companies are now conducting virtual showings, so prospective tenants may still view properties without having to leave home and risk exposure. And virtual showings don’t have to be complicated: a property manager or company can simply provide a pre-recorded video of a property. Or, Facetime with a client also works well to provide a virtual walk through. This method also permits interested parties to ask questions. High-tech videography equipment is not necessary, so long as the tenant can clearly view the property and communicate with the landlord.
Another key to conducting virtual showings: approach it as you would an in-person showing. Ensure the property is clean, and be thorough in showing all aspects of a unit. Virtual tours are best conducted during the day, as natural lighting makes for the easiest viewing experience. Be sure that any paperwork, such as a lease statement, is available electronically for prospective tenants.
Online Photos of Properties
If, for whatever reason, a company cannot provide virtual showings, they should post quality photos of their properties, online. As with virtual showings, ensure the unit is organized and staged for viewing, and utilize natural light when taking photos. There is no excuse for grainy, poorly lit images: today’s smartphones take high quality, clear images. Photos of a vacant property can make or break an individual’s interest in a property. As we all know, Durango, and the whole of La Plata county, is a beautiful region, a place where many would absolutely love to live and work. Don’t let poorly photographed images dissuade a potential tenant from signing a lease from a wonderful property.
Solo Walk Through
At the discretion of a landlord or property management company, solo walk throughs are another contactless option. Leave a key in a drop box so a prospective tenant can access the unit, and make clear beforehand any COVID-19 restrictions or rules, such as sanitizing doorknobs or handles. At the very least, provide hand sanitizer and encourage individuals to use it when entering and leaving the property.
Contactless Payment Solutions
Be sure to provide contactless payment solutions for those wanting to limit in-person interactions. PayPal or ACH, for example, are simple and secure modes for tenants to pay deposits and rent.
Contactless Solutions: Time Savers and A New Business Model
In addition to ensuring everyone’s health and safety, contactless solutions are great time savers! From saving a tenant a trip to the bank or having a landlord wait for a check to clear, the solutions described above save both tenants and property management company’s time. It’s a win-win situation.
While contactless solutions are accommodations, it is important to understand that they are fast becoming standard business models for businesses everywhere. The COVID-19 Pandemic will come to an end, but the digital solutions and practices undertaken will continue. While in-person showings will never disappear, it’s best to anticipate future tenants utilizing, and even preferring, contactless business solutions. By having such practices in place now, property rental businesses will be ready for the future of increased digital communication and interactions, all while saving time and hassle.
