Quick Answer
Tenant placement is a one-time service in which a property manager markets your rental, screens applicants under Seattle law, signs the lease, collects the deposit, and coordinates move-in — then hands the property back to you to manage day-to-day. It's ideal for owners who are comfortable self-managing but want the leasing done professionally and compliantly. Quorum has placed and managed Seattle rentals since 1985 and offers placement as a standalone service or as the first step into full management.
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The Basics
What is tenant placement?
Tenant placement — also called a leasing service, lease-up, or "find-a-tenant" service — is a defined, one-time engagement that ends the moment a qualified tenant is moved into your property. A professional handles the entire lease-up: pricing the rent, marketing the unit, showing it, screening applicants under Seattle's strict housing rules, preparing a compliant lease, collecting the deposit, and coordinating move-in. After that, you take over the day-to-day management yourself.
It's the middle path between doing everything yourself and handing off the whole property. You keep control of rent collection, maintenance, and renewals — but you skip the two hardest, highest-risk parts of leasing: reaching the right applicants and screening them legally. For hands-on Seattle owners, that's often exactly the help they need.
The Process
How Quorum's tenant placement works
Every placement follows the same proven sequence, refined over four decades of leasing Seattle rentals:
1. Marketing & advertising
Comp-based rent pricing, then a syndicated listing across the major rental sites to reach qualified renters fast.
2. Professional photography
Clean, well-lit listing photos that make your unit stand out and drive more showing requests.
3. Showings
We field inquiries and conduct showings, so you're never fielding calls or coordinating schedules.
4. Application & screening
Credit, income, rental history, and background checks run in full compliance with Seattle and Washington law.
5. Lease & e-signing
A current, compliant Washington lease prepared and executed by secure e-signature.
6. Deposit & move-in
Security-deposit collection, move-in coordination, and a clean handoff of keys and documents to you.
From there, the property is yours to run. See the full scope on our tenant placement service page.
Choosing a Service
Tenant placement vs. full property management
The difference comes down to where the service ends. Tenant placement is one-time and stops at move-in — you self-manage afterward. Full property management keeps going for the life of the tenancy, adding rent collection, maintenance, inspections, renewals, and ongoing compliance for a recurring monthly fee. Placement suits hands-on local owners; full management suits owners who want a passive, hands-off investment or who live out of the area.
Pricing
What does tenant placement cost in Seattle?
Tenant placement is almost always a one-time fee, paid only when a qualified tenant signs. In the Seattle market it's commonly quoted as a percentage of one month's rent — anywhere from about half a month up to a full month — or as a flat fee. It's separate from any ongoing management fee, so if you only want leasing help, that placement fee is all you pay. Because every property is different, the honest answer on price is to get a quote for your specific unit.
Timeline
How long does it take to fill a Seattle rental?
A well-priced, move-in-ready Seattle rental typically leases within about two to four weeks — but timing swings widely with the season. Peak leasing season (roughly May through September) fills fastest, while winter (November through February) is slower and often needs a small price adjustment. Price, condition, photo quality, and neighborhood demand are the biggest levers on how quickly your unit rents.
Pro Tip: Rental demand in Seattle is strongly seasonal. Listing in peak season (May–September) commands the highest rents and the shortest vacancies; a winter listing often needs a 3–5% discount to move at the same speed. Time your turnovers for spring and summer whenever you can.
Compliance
Tenant screening & Seattle law
Screening is where self-managing Seattle owners get into the most trouble, because the city's rules go well beyond federal Fair Housing law. A compliant placement has to navigate several Seattle-specific requirements:
- First-in-Time rule. Seattle requires landlords to offer tenancy to the first qualified applicant who meets the stated screening criteria — you can't simply pick your favorite from the pool.
- Fair Chance Housing Ordinance. Strict limits on how (and whether) criminal history can be used in screening decisions.
- Source-of-income protection. You cannot refuse an applicant because they pay with a housing voucher or other lawful source of income.
- Security-deposit and move-in-fee rules. Washington and Seattle regulate how much you can collect, how it's held, and how it's returned.
Consistent, documented, legally compliant screening is one of the main reasons owners hand this step to a professional. For a deeper dive, see our Seattle tenant screening guide and the full Seattle Landlord Resource Center.
The Decision
Is tenant placement right for you?
Tenant placement is usually the right choice if you live near your property, you're comfortable handling rent and repairs yourself, and your real pain point is the leasing — reaching qualified renters and screening them without making a costly legal mistake. It's also a low-commitment way to try working with a manager before deciding on full service.
Consider full management instead if you want a hands-off investment, you're an out-of-area or first-time owner, or you own multiple units. And if you're not sure, that's fine — Quorum offers both, so you can start with placement and move up to full management later, with the tenant we placed carrying over.
