This is my first time using OpenRent and so far I am very pleased beside one thing. I’ve posted a listing for letting my house including on Zoopla and RightMoove but the platform seams to hide all phone numbers.
I am afraid I loos 80% of the prospect tenants who will just move on to an add with a phone number! Is there a way for me to share my phone number both in online listings (OpenRent, Zoopla, RightMoove) as well as in messages?
I’ve paid all the fees so far, but if my number is not show that would be very disapointing and probably I would need to use letting agents due to low interest.
Not true, I’ve been renting out flats for ages and would much prefer to have my number published. Also I’ve been renting flats and I would not consider the liting serious if it doesn’t have a number.
Anyway, is there a way to show my number and why on earth would these numbers be hidden at all? I’ve already paid the fees OpenRent would not loose me as client if I prospect tenant can just call me.
I would like to be able to decide myself weather or not I am contactable by phone.
If you really found tenants previously by giving out your tel in a listing and it worked why aren’t you doing same method again?
It doesn’t matter how many tenants are like you and want to be able to call you direct from the listing. OR won’t allow it. Just put it in your auto reply. Lots of tenants do use OR, Zoopla and rightmove listings to find somewhere and these almost never have LL tel (they often have lettings agent tel on rightmove or zoopla). OR encourage as much as possible via messaging so it’s documented in case of later disputes.
Just like a letting agent won’t allow it. If tenants can deal entirely directly with you the letting agents have no evidence to stop LLs saying they found the tenant independently and so can’t be sure of any finders fee. Lettings agents will put their number not yours.
Wait and see if you find a good tenant who unlike you is willing to press a button and send a message before they speak to you. Doesn’t matter how many others are like you and won’t use OR/Rightmove/Zoopla when there’s no LL tel listed. If it doesn’t work go back to your old method. If having your tel in the listing is a vital part of what you need ask OR to pull the listings and refund you.
Openrents phone number is advertised. It’s worked like this for over a decade. It works, and it’s like this for every single landlord who successfully use openrent.
People preferred contact methods have changed over the years. People now like to hide behind messaging platforms and text messages.
I have an auto reply asking applicants to call me on my mobile number which I include in the message. If they don’t call me, they don’t get on the ladder. Simples. Great way to filter out those who can’t follow instructions.
Thank you all for your suggestions! I am setting up auto replay with my number.
Thank you as well to try to convince me OpenRent’s approach towards phone numbers is better. I am still not convinced and I would have prefered to have the option. I am glad that your preferences match with OpenRent’s policy but that’s not my preferences.
Just from curiosity @David240 what finders fee are you reffering to. I’ve paid all the fees I am due to OpenRent upfront besite the reference check fees for potential tenants. What would OpenRent loose if I am able to communicate with potential tenants on the phone both they calling me or I calling them?
If you used a lettings agent to do viewings and find a good tenant, do referencing and tenancy creation (but not then do managenent) they will typically charge a fee (anything from 5% to 12% most common is a month’s rent so 8%). But for that model tenants have to deal via the agents to avoid private deals where agent doesn’t get a fee - just like when selling a property through an estate agent.
As you say OR could include your tel in listing but they choose not to. By trying to do everything inc messaging holding deposit and tenancy creation via their website they are encouraging use of their services. Their business model is based on free listings then resulting in a proportion of LLs using their services. If everyone just wanted a web listing service it would cost more per listing and they would then include your tel upfront I expect. There may be others who provide exactly that service.
Ps if you want to use an alternative to OR who will post your ad on rightmove and Zoopla and give you a whatsapp number or let you post your own, use Helloneigh bour
Google ‘Comparison of online letting agents inc OpenRent • The Independent Landlord’