Apartment Realtor Showings (Boston: apartments, rentals, home)

[cymru3]

We just handed in our notice for our apartment, the lease for which ends Aug 31st. Since the day after the landlord received our notice, we've been inundated with calls and texts from realtors clamoring to come in and take photos or show the apartment. We've been really accommodating so far, even when one realtor wanted to come by at 8pm (and then didn't show up until 8.30...), however the constant texts, phone calls and knocks at the door are wearing thin.

We're happy for people to come by and see the place, after all, how else will they lease the place out again for September? I know it's also in our best interests as the quicker they rent the place, the sooner this will all stop. However, today 2 groups were scheduled to come by. Three separate groups turned up and one sent me a text saying they couldn't make it, although I had never received any contact from this group prior to this. There was no way of telling which were the 2 groups who'd asked to come by so I couldn't even ask them to please contact us beforehand if they want to show the apartment again. We've had people coming by every single day since it went up for rent. We've also had FOUR separate realtors from the SAME company come by to take photos, and two from another company. Our apartment has been on the market for just 6 days.

Just received another text asking to come by and see the place at 6pm tomorrow. We'd kind of like to wind down, eat our dinner in peace and maybe watch some tv on a Saturday evening, not sit around waiting for a realtor to show and then wait awkwardly until they leave. So, apart from having a bit of a moan in this post...what can we do? Can we tell realtors no, they need to reschedule for a different time? It hasn't been like this in previous rentals here in Boston so we've been taken by complete surprise!

[495neighbor]

If your lease ends nearly 7 months from now, why do they need to show the place so far in advance. Are you trying to get out of your lease early?

[cymru3]

Nope. Nothing of the sort.

[gf2020]

You can definitely tell the realtors no but why did you give 7 months notice to the landlord that you are not renewing your lease? Seems like that's just setting yourself up for a hassle.

[cymru3]

The landlord sent us a renewal letter in January, we had until Feb 5th to get it back to them. If we didn't get back to them they'd put the apartment on the market automatically. So it wasn't really our choice.

[MikePRU]

If someone asks to show the apartment at a certain time but it doesn't work for you then you can absolutely say "no." It happens to me all the time and I just find a time that works for both parties.

[495neighbor]

I'm really amazed this many people are apartment hunting for a place that won't be available until September.

I would think if you are in the city, 60 days would be sufficient notice, especially with the great demand for apartments in downtown.

Many tenants would find it difficult to plan this far ahead, especially students who often don't know where they will work following graduation.

[yaeger07]

I have friends who live in a student neighborhood that also had to commit to their September 1 apartment by now.

For my apartment we have to give 60 days, but my LL doesn't rent to students.

[cymru3]

Well we do live in Allston, which might explain things! Good to know that we can say no to some showings though, the way the realtors say it it's like "I'll be there at X time, ok thanks bye " so we were unsure if we HAVE to let them come by whenever they wanted because it's never phrased as a question! Feel a bit stupid now.

[stanley-88888888]

like any type of con they try to sucker you into doing what they want despite your capability or convenience. just tell them no. if they show up anyways let them know you cant let them in because you work from home and are on a conference call or something. if they refuse to leave just call the police.

(but be polite... they do know where you live).