Sam’s right (read comments on this post). There’s little financial incentive for someone to really improve the consumer rental experience on the tenant side.

Rather than the tenant paying, perhaps the best incentive is agents/brokers building trusted relationships with future buyers by delivering real value by making the process of scheduling showings more efficient?

Many brokerages do have agents and assistants with down time. Why not have them spend some of that helping coordinate a better rental experience for tenants? Renters today are tomorrow’s buyers. Rentals seems like an effective way to acquire future clients. It’s either that, or you’re going to end up paying money to get in front of those people when they are ready to buy. I suppose the question is then how much time is required to serve renters today? Any brokers reading with a rental aspect to your business?

If you’re working on a rental startup and at Inman this week, shoot me a note – drew at horizonapp co.