How Viewings Work

Viewings allow renters to move from discovering to viewing a listing in a few seconds, without any phone calls or email threads. The underlying viewings infrastructure manages when they get access and for how long, who they contact during or before the viewing, and which information they receive (and when).

• Notifications
• Calendar control
• Authentication rules
• Building or situation-specific policies
• Access control
• Proxied communications

Process

Each unit has a calendar associated with it that can be edited by multiple parties. The calendar classifies certain periods of the day as available for access. Viewings must be booked within one of these time windows.

Personal safety

Viewers cannot confirm their viewing until they've passed the prequalification check for the listing. A confirmed viewing is the only way to see address details and get the access code in the case of self-tours. Additionally, sensitive information is gated until the pre-allotted time window begins.

Viewers are never given the personal contact information of anyone associated with the unit. Instead, viewers get a phone number to text you directly if they have any problems finding the unit or if no one opens the door. This is not your actual number and it only works during the viewing window.

You can choose to provide the phone number of your agent or your phone number but this is not recommended or required.

Notifications

Notifications keep all parties informed and include links for easy canceling and rescheduling. The notifications and reminders associated with viewings are setup by default to notify the person who is moving out, the person in charge of managing the unit, and the renter.

These are the notifications currently in place: -

Notifications and prompts to make sure viewers show up:

• Viewing confirmation: Instant notification for the viewer, the owner, and the current occupant if there is one. The viewer receives the date, address, your instructions, and, additional building instructions. You and the current occupant will see the time of the viewing and the link to cancel the viewing.

• Viewing reminders: One hour ahead of the viewing, all parties are notified. They are given the same information as the initial confirmation email. The viewer also receives a text message with one-hour notice. Cancellation is still possible.

Other notifications:

• Viewing cancellations: If the viewing is canceled, then the other parties receive notifications with links to reschedule.

• Viewing follow up: At the end of their window, the viewer receives a text message with a link to apply or ask a question.

• The occupant receives notifications when a viewing is confirmed and a reminder an hour before the viewing.

Policies

Certain building or situation-specific policies govern all marketing activity on all types of accounts.

• When viewings are enabled at occupied units, certain adjustments are made to notifications and time window availability. Unlike viewings at vacant units, where a renter can schedule a viewing on the day of the viewing, there is always a 24-hour buffer window for occupied units so that the occupant is never caught by surprise.