How to find a tenant faster in a slow market

In RentEngine, a property is flagged as “At Risk” when it’s underperforming. Either it’s been on the market longer than similar units in the area or it’s getting fewer leads than expected.

You’ll spot these properties in the Leasing Intelligence section, highlighted under the “Listing Health” column.

Here’s how to turn those red flags into leased-up success stories.

Re-evaluate your price

One of the most common causes of low lead volume and high DOM is pricing that doesn’t reflect current demand. Even a $100 difference can deter search filters or raise red flags for renters comparing listings in the same neighborhood.

What you can do:

• Look at current rent, time on market, and how aggressively others are discounting e.g. free first month, reduced deposits.

• If your unit offers more value (like updated finishes, parking, or in-unit laundry), emphasize this clearly in the listing to justify your price.

Upgrade your listing

An at-risk property almost always suffers from an underwhelming online presence.

What to look for:

• Are your photos professional-quality? Take a look at our handy guide for taking killer rental photos.

• Do you have a floorplan image included?

• Is the description compelling and easy to scan?

• Are you highlighting unique selling points like smart home features, pet policies, or outdoor space?

• Have you included a strong lead-in paragraph?

For more tips on how to write the perfect listing, check out this guide.

Expand your reach

Your listing might be great but if it’s not being seen in the right places, leads will stay flat.

To improve exposure:

• Ensure your listing is syndicated to all major rental sites (Zillow, Apartments.com, Zumper, etc.).

• Use a listing service that automatically pushes updates (availability, pricing, photos) to these platforms to avoid mismatches.

• Consider boosted or featured listings for at-risk properties to push them higher in search results.

Rethink your showing strategy

Poor or inflexible showing logistics can tank an otherwise promising listing. If prospects can’t view the unit when they want they’ll move on fast.

Best practices:

• Decide whether self-guided or accompanied showings makes the most sense for your business.

• Use Smart Scheduling tools to cluster showings at the same property and reduce wasted trips.

• Set a consistent showing window across days and avoid blacking out weekends unless necessary.

• Minimize friction and let qualified prospects book a showing instantly rather than waiting for a callback.

If you're seeing no-shows or ghosting:

• Shorten the wait between enquiry and first contact.

• Confirm appointments via text or email reminder 24 hours in advance.

• Allow prospects to cancel or reschedule easily.

Nurture cold leads

The average renter doesn’t convert after one contact. In fact, it takes roughly 9–10 touch points before a prospect is ready to apply. If your lead nurture strategy stops after the first showing, you’re losing leases.

Here’s what you can do:

• Send timely, thoughtful follow-ups that remind prospects of the value your property offers.

• Ask if they’ve found what they’re looking for, or if there’s anything holding them back.

• Keep your follow-up cadence consistent.

Automating these touchpoints can be a game-changer.

Tighten the application process

The application process should be smooth and fast.

Checklist:

• Can applicants start and complete the application from their phone?

• Are you sending the application link immediately after showings?

• Are you auto-updating the property’s status (e.g. "on hold" or "waitlisted") to avoid overbooking interest?

Final thoughts

RentEngine offers everything from smart scheduling to listing syndication, automated lead nurture, and listing optimization so you can turn even your toughest units around. Ask your RentEngine rep to walk you through these tools if you need a refresher.

If you’re not a RentEngine user, reach out and schedule a demo to see how we can supercharge your leasing.