What should be a leasing professional's FIRST response after receiving a notice to vacate from a community resident?

The most appropriate initial response for a leasing professional upon receiving a notice to vacate is to personally contact the resident and attempt to retract the notice. This approach acknowledges the resident's intention and opens a line of communication, providing an opportunity to understand their reasons for vacating. Engaging directly with the resident can help identify potential solutions or accommodations that might persuade them to reconsider their decision.

By fostering a dialogue, the leasing professional can demonstrate a commitment to tenant satisfaction, which may lead to retaining the resident. This proactive engagement also allows for a better understanding of the resident's feedback, which can be valuable for improving the community's service and addressing any concerns.

Scheduling a move-out inspection or sending a final account-due notice would be premature before attempting to understand and potentially resolve the situation with the resident. Similarly, asking the community manager to persuade the resident might lack the personal touch and immediacy needed in that critical moment, which a direct conversation would provide.