"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
 Zig Ziglar

The Rent to Own business is about one thing...giving people what they want, when they want it...period. That simple statement says it all.

The avg. rental customer rents for 4-5 months.
That means you have to completely replace your agreements, roughly, every 4-5 months. Writing agreements is EVERYTHING. Your business depends on it. Here are some tips for "crankin-em-out".

... What they want 
Just as in retail, being "out of stock" is being "out of business". You can't carry all brands in all categories. Luckily you don't have to. It is infinitely more important to carry a wide selection of "categories" than to carry a wide selection within one category. If you find yourself constantly out of 32" TV's, but you carry 4 sizes of Washers and 20 living room groups...It's time to re-adjust your inventory. 

• If you had a magic wand, what categories would you carry? 
• Reduce or eliminate duplication within categories 
• Add additional inventory categories
• Keep a "Customer Request" clipboard on the wall. When a customer ask for an item not carried in stock, add it to the list. After a few weeks, you will have a good idea of the categories to add. 

Even if you have to carry just one item within any given category...do it. You will satisfy more customers and it will help store appearance. Back up your limited selection with a special order program if you have to, but never let the words..."sorry we are out of stock" pass your ruby red rental lips.

...Close the sale Agreement
In today's competitive rental environment, it's not enough to load up on inventory. You have to sell. Remember the golden rule, "there are no shoppers, only renters that haven't paid yet". Your goal should be to rent something... anything...to every person who walks through your door. Renters tend to make quick decisions. If they've taken the time to look, they will rent from someone...make sure it's you. Don't take no for an answer. When a shopper tells you...

• Customer: "I'm just looking"
  You: "Is there anything in particular you need"?
• Customer: "No, just looking around"
  You: "Great, we can deliver anything in the store within 1 hour"
• Customer: "No thanks"
  You: "We have a special going on...all 'new' customers get a free week"
• Customer: "You're my hero"
  You: "All in a days work ma'am"

The single biggest mistake made by account managers is "failure to ask for the agreement". When a customer asks more than 2 questions about any item, they are ready...but you have to ask for it. 

• "When can we deliver your new living room group"?
• "Let me get you an application and I'll write it up".

...When they want it
Next day delivery is not good enough! Same day delivery is not unique. If you really want to make an impression, how about 1 hour delivery. Remember your customers motivation..."what I want, when I want it". 

If you don't deliver, someone else will
The odds are good that your 'new' customer, is your competitors 'old' customer. The odds are equally good that they have been recently, or are about to be, picked up by a competitor. If they get picked up at noon, they will want delivery by 2:00. If you don't deliver, someone else will.