Trying to offer pet friendly, affordable accommodation ...

[IslandScribe]

... is harder than it looks.

I posted my place online and in the paper. Of the many people who called, only a few made appointments to see it -- and less than half of those showed up to view the place.

Those who saw it wanted to rent it immediately and were surprised I was offering it for much less than market rate. It wasn't until one person told me what else was out there in the $400 - $500 range -- and what they had expected to find -- that I realized that people were assuming it wasn't worth seeing. (Either that -- or most would-be tenants are really irresponsible!)

Yet I hear people complaining all the time about the dearth of affordable accommodation. I'm assuming it will be rented by the time anyone reads this. But it does make me wonder how I *should* go about offering pet-friendly, affordable accommodation.

Keep well,
IslandScribe

[kaycee]

where is it located?

[IslandScribe]

Near downtown, specifically two blocks south of Port Place. I know all of south Nanaimo has a somewhat undeserved negative rep ... but this area is predominately owner-occupied homes and fairly quiet.

[Jenni_H]

Hi There,
Just read your thread, I'm amazed that people would make appointments to view your place, then not show up! My fiance and I are desperate to find a pet friendly place that is affordable!!! Is your place still available??? My e-mail is Jenni_H@shaw.ca, I would love to view your place if it is still available! Please let me know, we are kind of stuck without a place, and no one seems to want to offer rentals that allow pets. I'm sorry that you are having a hard time with finding honest, reliable tenants, if it's still available, we are VERY interested!!!
Thanks,
Jennifer

[IslandScribe]

Jenni,

I'm sorry but I did rent it the weekend I posted the message. I was just very surprised by the number of people who didn't show up to view the place.

I've probably received between 60 and 80 calls on it, so perhaps the percentage would have improved if I'd kept making appointments. As it was, I rented it to a pet owner on a limited income four days after it was first advertised in the paper.

Good luck finding a new home.

Keep well,
IslandScribe