Traditional leasing teams are staffed 9-5 on weekdays. And maybe a few hours on Saturday.
But new data suggests that most renter leads actually come in after-hours.
Based on the latest RentEngine analysis, 56.8% of prospects are contacting you before work, after work and on the weekends.
For the first time, more than half of prospects are searching on weekends and eveningsThis is a remarkable shift in renter behavior.
As an industry, we've gotten comfortable with servicing them during business hours. But if more than half of all leads are coming in after hours, this presents an opportunity and a threat.
Especially because studies show that leads are 3x more likely to convert if engaged within 5 minutes.
Winning teams will engage leads, answer questions, run showings and sign leases while their competition sleeps.
The property managers that adapt quickly will earn a competitive advantage in leasing. With the right staffing and tools, they can dominate their market.
Crunching the numbers
Reader Note: these results come from RentEngine' prospect behavior data, covering scattered-site managers across the United States with 300-10,000 doors. Most vacancies are single family homes and apartment buildings of up to 100 units.
Work hours are busy, but Business Hours
Only 43.2% of leads come in during working hours (M-F, 9-5). The majority (56.8%) of prospects now reach out over the weekend, and in the evenings or early morning.
Saturday and Sunday
22.5% of renters contact properties on weekends. It's split evenly between Saturday and Sunday
Early mornings and late evenings
Even during the weekdays, 44.2% of leads come in outside of work hours.
But evenings are busier than mornings, with 2X more leads after 5pm, than before 9am.

Busy Days
Mondays and Wednesdays are consistently the busiest days for new lead traffic.
And the Busiest Hour of the Week
Monday lunchtime (12pm-1pm) gets more leads than any other time of the week. The runners up are Wednesday at noon and Monday at 2pm
But why?
Two possible causes are the behavior of younger renters and the dominance of listing sites.
The average renter was now born in the 1990s and is far less likely to do business over phone calls. Therefore, they don't need to match their rental search with normal business hours.
Listing sites (like Zillow, Realtor.com) continue to heavily invest in user experience, making the internet the most convenient place to find and contact rental listings. In fact, less than 6% of new tenant leads come via phone call.
Renters are getting younger and mostly contact rentals online, not by phoneAn opportunity appears
This actually creates an opportunity.
During COVID, the property managers that offered self-showings suddenly had an advantage. They won by having the more convenient experience for prospects.
Now the advantage goes to the leasing team that can respond, engage and schedule the fastest.
RentEngine engages and converts rental leads for high-performing teamsAnd if 56.8% of leads are coming in after hours, you need to adjust and be the first to serve those prospects. That means having the systems, automations and team that can convert leads on nights and weekends.
In this slow leasing market, speed-to-lead is king.
Property managers that embrace this new reality will win on two fronts.
If you're ready to win in leasing, check out RentEngine. Fast-growing teams choose RentEngine to convert leads after-hours, simplify operations and lease 9 days faster.
Talk to the team to learn more today.