Start the virtual tour like you’re already halfway to signing. Seriously. The best answers come out when a landlord thinks you’re a real prospect, not a casual scroller. And if you’re trying to cut housing costs, the questions you ask on video can make or break your negotiating position later.
We’ve sat in on a lot of these tours at Rental Secrets. Some are totally normal. Some are a mess. Some are scams wearing a blazer. The good news is you don’t need to be slick. You just need a short list of questions that force clarity.
Ask the questions that expose the real monthly cost
Rent is only the headline. You already know that. It’s the fees and utilities that eat your budget and then you’re suddenly playing spreadsheet whack-a-mole.
What is the all in monthly number for a typical tenant
Look, asking “what’s the rent” is fine. But you want the full monthly burn rate. So ask:
“For the last tenant, what did they usually pay per month after utilities and required fees?”
And then shut up. Let them talk. If they start guessing wildly, that tells you something. If they say “depends” and stop there, push gently. “Totally. Ballpark me. What tends to be typical?”
Which fees are mandatory and which are optional
This is where people get clipped. Trash fee. Tech package. “Administrative” fee that somehow repeats every month. Pet rent plus pet fee plus pet deposit (yes, all three, because why not).
Ask for the full list. And ask if any of it is avoidable. Sometimes it is. Especially the add-on “benefits package” stuff.
- What fees are charged every month besides rent?
- What fees happen once at move-in?
- Is renters’ insurance required, and do you force a specific provider?
- Is parking included, and if not, what’s the real price?
- Do you bill utilities through a third-party service that adds admin charges?
One quick aside. If you’re brand new to doing these tours, our main guide to virtual rental tours and what to look for covers the visual stuff too. Video tours can hide a lot. Noise. Water pressure. Smells you can’t smell through a screen. That kind of thing.
Force specifics on condition, repairs, and who actually fixes things
This bugs me. Landlords will say “we’re responsive” like it’s a personality trait. Cool. What does that mean on a Tuesday night when the fridge dies?
What’s your average repair turnaround time
Ask it plain. “What’s the typical turnaround time for non-emergency repairs? And what about emergencies?”
Most of the time, you’ll get a squishy answer. That’s normal. Your job is to turn squishy into a timeline. “Is that usually 24 hours, 3 days, a week?”
And ask how requests are submitted. App? Email? Phone? If it’s “text me,” that can be great with a small landlord. Or chaos. Depends on the person.
Can you show me the problem spots on camera
Yes, ask to see flaws. It’s not rude. It’s adult.
“Can you show me under the sink? And the corners of the bathroom ceiling? Any sign of past leaks?”
In our experience, a legit landlord doesn’t freak out. They just flip the camera and show you. A scammer tends to rush. Or they refuse. Or they claim the camera is “broken” but somehow still want your deposit today. Nope.
Also ask about pest history. Not “do you have pests?” Nobody says no. Ask: “When was the last pest control visit, and is it on a schedule?”
Get clarity on lease terms that affect your leverage later
Price is negotiable more often than people think. But the lease terms are where you can quietly save money. Or get trapped.
How do renewals and rent increases work
Ask what renewal increases have looked like in the building. Last year. The year before. If they won’t say exact numbers, ask for a range.
Also ask how much notice you get. Some places do the bare minimum, which makes budgeting hard. And if you’re a student or a young professional whose income fluctuates, that matters.
What’s the early termination and subletting policy
Life happens. Job changes. Breakups. A surprise internship in another city. You want to know what it costs to exit.
Ask: “If I need to leave early, what’s the fee structure? Do you allow lease takeovers or sublets? What’s the process?”
Landlords who have a clean, written process tend to be easier to deal with. The ones who say “we’ll figure it out later” are telling you they’ll figure it out later – most likely at your expense.
We teach a lot of this at Rental Secrets because negotiation isn’t just a lower rent number. Sometimes we’d rather get you flexible terms, a capped renewal, or fees removed. Those are real dollars.
Use the tour to verify the listing is real and reduce scam risk
Virtual tours are perfect for scammers because they can hide behind “I’m out of town.” Classic line. And it still works on smart people who are stressed and trying to move fast.
Who owns the property and who manages it
Ask the name of the property owner or the management company. Ask for a business email. Not just a random Gmail.
Then ask: “Where do I submit an application, and how do you handle screening?”
Real operations have a process. It can be simple. But it exists.
Can you do a live walkthrough right now
Pre-recorded videos are fine. But ask for live video too. “Can you open a closet and show the inside? Can you show the view out the window?”
Scammers hate real-time requests. They’ll deflect. They’ll get annoyed. They’ll pressure you to pay.
If you want more scam-prevention tactics, we’ve got a whole section on it in our virtual tours and scam prevention resources. It’s the stuff we wish everyone knew before sending money.
Ask landlord style questions to predict the relationship
This is the part people skip. They focus on countertops and forget they’re picking a person (or a company) to deal with for a year.
How do you prefer to communicate and what bugs you
Honestly? Ask it. In a friendly way. “What’s your preferred communication method? And what tends to frustrate you with tenants?”
You’ll learn a lot from their vibe. Some landlords want everything documented. Love that. Some want you to never bother them. Not always great, especially when something breaks.
Why did the last tenant leave
This is one of our favorite questions because it catches people off guard. Sometimes you’ll get a normal answer. “They bought a house.” Great.
Sometimes you get a weird pause. Or a story that’s too dramatic. That’s when you ask one follow-up: “Was there any ongoing issue with the unit while they lived there?”
Don’t ignore the relationship stuff. It’s not just fluff. Turns out it predicts headaches better than a sparkling clean kitchen does.
FAQs for Best questions for landlords on virtual rental property tours
Is it rude to ask a landlord to show problem areas on a virtual tour?
No. And a decent landlord won’t treat it like it’s rude. You’re not accusing them of anything. You’re verifying. Keep it casual. “Mind showing me under the sinks and around the windows? I’ve had leak issues before and I’m cautious.” Most people get it.
When should I start negotiating rent if I’m only doing a virtual tour?
Usually after you’ve confirmed the place is real and you understand the total monthly cost. Not before. Negotiating too early can spook a landlord who hasn’t decided you’re serious. We like to gather facts during the tour, then negotiate after you’ve applied or when you’re clearly next in line. Timing is half the trick.
Your next step after the tour
Right after the call, write down the numbers you heard. Rent, fees, utilities, deposits, parking. Any timelines they promised. And anything that felt evasive.
Then compare that true monthly cost against your budget. Not your hopeful budget. Your real one. If the math works, that’s when we’d prep a negotiation message using what you learned on the tour. Calm. Specific. Hard to argue with.
And if the answers were slippery? Walk. Your future self will thank you.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute legal advice.
