webLOGfor.US

    Previously I gave some details on properly screening for tenants. I've been fielding the calls for those who are interested in the property and I figured that I should give my tips on the pre-screening process for potential tenants. This process deals mainly with the calls that come in for the property.

    The first thing I do is change my voicemail message to give details about the property in case a call comes in that I can't answer. I leave information like:

• Number of bedrooms/bathrooms
• Monthly rent and what's included (for me that's just the first $30.00 of water)
• Date rental is available
• Requirement of a Criminal, Credit and Eviction checks.
• Requirement of verifiable income that is 3 times the rent.
• Fee for application which will be applied to first month's rent if candidate is accepted.

    When I speak to the prospective tenants I usually start by asking them a few questions about themselves. I usually go for:

• Where do they currently live?
• Why are they moving?
• What rent do they pay now?
• What pets do they have?
• What do they do for a living?
• How many adults will be living in the property?

    This conversation will allow me to get a good feel for the people. I will also let them ask any questions of me that they may have. If everything sounds good on the telephone I will scchedule an appointment to show the place and meet the people. I remind them of the application fee and that it will be due in cash or money order when they turn in the application. If the appointment is for more than 2 days away, I call the day of the appointment to confirm the time.  The confirmation call helps reduce a lot of the no-shows.

web log for us – those that screen the heck out of our tenants so we minimize the problems later on

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