7 Steps to Great Applicants
- Application Fees
- Credit Reports and Credit History
- Other screening services
- Megan's Law notice
- Checking RENTAL history
- May I have your name please?
- Are you the Owner, Manager, or Leasing Agent?
(We ask these first two questions because we verify the owner using the county record. Every once in a while we catch someone posing as an owner that is really not. The applicant that sets up that trick is guaranteed to be a disaster.) - What date did the tenant move in? (Be sure the date matches the date on the application and the credit report.)
- Are they still living in the property?
- What is the monthly rent amount?
- Has the tenant ever paid late?
- Has the tenant ever given you a NSF (non-sufficient funds) check?
- Have you ever had to serve the tenant a 3-Day Pay or Quit Notices?
- Have you ever received any complaints (noise, etc.) about the tenant?
- Does the tenant take good care of the yard?
- Does the tenant have any pets?
- If yes / Have the pet(s) created any problems or damage?
- Has a 30-Day Notice to vacate been given?
(If the tenant is making plans to vacate without giving a notice he/she will do the same thing to you.) - If yes / Did the tenant give you notice or did you give the tenant notice?
(sometimes everything sounds good until the owner tells you that he/she gave the tenant notice. If the owner gave notice, ask "why?" and listen closely) - Is rent current?
- Would you rent to them again?
- Is there anything else I should know about them?
- Verifying income
- Visit applicants current residence
This is one of the most important steps in the screening process. Some people with good credit are still miserable renters.
We ask these questions of every landlord reference. The answer to any one of these questions could be the key to avoiding a bad tenant:
The current landlord may want the tenant to move out and thus, give them a glowing reference. It is imperative that you call the prior landlord and ask them the same questions as you asked the current landlord (if less than three years).