If you don’t have that kind of on-call availability, look for a self-showing solution that comes with real human customer support. Make sure your self-tour access instructions are as clear as possible, including the instructions for locking the property once the prospect is done with their self-guided tour.īe available for any questions or concerns the prospective renter may have while they’re self-touring the property - especially when it comes to access issues. At Showdigs, we recommend booking a Showdigs Agent tour or Showdigs Agent walk-through every 3-4 self-showings to make sure the property is properly locked up, still looks clean, and the lights/heat/AC aren’t left on for long periods of time. If you are using self-guided tours, make sure to routinely check up on the property. Other than using advanced technology to secure the self-showing process, how else can you ensure that your property is as safe and secure as possible? Ways to make your rental property as secure as possible
#Codebox showings verification#
This verification process is sophisticated enough to scare away any potential scammers who won’t want to risk exposing their identity. Here's how the Showdigs' facial recognition technology works to prevent self-tour scams. Once a prospective renter uploads photos of the front and back of their government-issued ID, they then use their front camera to scan their face, proving they are who they say they are by matching their face to their photo ID. But as the story above reveals, scammers can still find a way around these security measures.Įnter Showdigs, the only self-showing platform that takes the identity-verification process one step further with the use of facial recognition technology. Rently, Tenant Turner, and Showmojo are all compatible with lockboxes ( like CodeBox) and offer similar levels of security: pre-screening questions, credit card used to verify, and one-time-use codes that expire after an hour. Not all self-showing technology is made equally secure.
#Codebox showings how to#
So, how did this happen? How was the scammer able to access the one-time-use codes for the lockbox? The same way a lot of scammers do it: He signed up for a self-guided tour, most likely used a stolen credit card, and was given the code to the lockbox that he could then give to other unknowing prospects.Īs a property manager or homeowner, how can you maximize showing availability with self-guided tours, while also protecting the property and prospective renters from scams? How to mitigate the risk of self-guided tour scams That’s when it clicked and Smith realized she had been scammed. Unfortunately, she sent him the money - and then he requested an additional $650 to remove the lockbox. Smith got the code, self-toured the place, and loved it - but things started to seem fishy when the scammer wanted $1,600 (first and last month’s rent) wired to him via bitcoin before he sent her the lease.
![codebox showings codebox showings](https://docs.codebox.ca/download/attachments/1376338/connection.png)
This “landlord” told her that he was unable to show the place himself, as he was in Florida, but he was able to send her the lockbox code so she could tour the property herself. She was thrilled when she found a home in a good location for a great price, and immediately contacted who she believed was the listing owner. In June of 2020, Tonya Smith was desperately looking for a place for her and her kids to live in Kansas City, Missouri. Even with lockboxes that create one-time-use codes that expire after an hour, scammers have figure out a way to still make money off of prospective renters that are desperate for a good deal - or even just a place to live.
![codebox showings codebox showings](https://codeboxinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/hero-img.png)
What would a self-guided tour scam look like?Īlthough not very common, self-showing scams are possible and can happen when there aren’t enough safety measures in place.
![codebox showings codebox showings](http://static.codebox.in/images/portfolio/logos/bobble.jpg)
Let’s take a look at what a self-showing scam could look like, how you can protect against potential scams, and what you can do to make the property as secure as possible.
![codebox showings codebox showings](https://codeboxinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/piggy.png)
When it comes to self-guided tours, there are many concerns among property managers about safety measures, how to make sure properties are kept secure, and how to make sure prospective renters are kept safe from any potential scams. Between COVID-19 and the rise of younger renters hitting the rental market, self-guided tours, or “self-showings,” have become a very popular way to tour rental properties.