New Zillow tool aims to give renters a leg up on the competition
In today’s competitive rental market, a few minutes can make the difference between getting a place or losing out to another renter.
Zillow recently released a new tool called Renter Profile that it says will give renters a leg up on the competition. Renter Profile lets people searching for properties on Zillow quickly get all their pertinent information in front of a potential landlord or property manager.
“As inventory remains tight and demand grows, there’s more competition than ever in the rentals market, which is why it’s imperative for renters to be able to act fast and jump on listings they’re interested in,” Jeremy Wacksman, Zillow chief marketing officer, said in a statement. “Most landlords are inundated with multiple inquiries for each property, so a renter’s best strategy to stand out is to engage first and provide a complete picture of their unique qualifications. By offering this feature, we’re helping renters reach out to more landlords with less effort, eliminating some of the stress that comes with searching in a competitive market.”
The profile includes a personal bio, reason for moving, self-reported credit score, employment, references, and the type of unit the renter is looking for. The profile can be shared with multiple landlords and property managers, allowing renters to take action on a listing immediately.
Zillow said in a press release more than 1.2 million people have set up profiles since the feature launched about two months ago.