Curious how others do it....

If you have 3 interested and qualified applicants for a vacancy and they all turn in their applications and fees on the same day, do you screen all of them and choose the “best “ one or do you Screen the first qualified applicant and if all goes well offer to them? And if not, then move to #2 and then #3?

If offered to #1 without moving to screen to #2 & 3 are the application fees returned to applicants not screened? Or is this the cost of doing business for applicants, forfeiting application fees...

This has always felt tricky to me and so I Screen hard before setting up tours so that it is very likely that anyone actually at the point of touring apartment is good qualified applicant and very often once applied/screened the first applicant is offered apartment. So far so good, but evaluating if this is in fact best approach.

Hi Drew..of course CO may have rules and laws on this, but here is what I do on the app

our state has always allowed an application fee.

The fee pays those companies for the information used to compare your app to the public record, therefore, it is not refundable as those funds are spent.

Owners want a detailed report, because in great part due to the control of property shown above.

Applying is not a guarantee of being selected, or a race to choose someone, there are a variety of elements.

In applying, you declare you are asking for your application be considered, the app is an introduction!

To to select an applicant:

Fair Housing Council & HUD, wrote, to clarify the process, in part:

'Although we recommend that landlords accept the first qualified applicant', ‘fair housing law does not define qualified and does not require the landlord accept the first person.’

'Landlords are allowed to adopt whatever method (criteria) of picking a qualified applicant.'.... (as long as it is not discriminatory and it is used for all. 'Landlords have the liberty of accepting applications' and 'screening through them for the one they choose’.

Your application is compared in at least two ways:

a. Your app is compared to the record on credit bureaus & public records companies.

b. Your app is also compared to other apps, owners want to make the best choice. See ‘Who to select’ shown above.

* All complete applications are considered until one of the following occurs:

1. You are offered the home.

2. Someone else is offered the home.

1 & 2 may have variable time frames.

2a. Should that person not complete the process or change their mind the ad will be reposted.

3. In either event you will be notified as to the outcome once the process is complete.

4. App modification: If you would like to modify your application please let us know by email.

I return the application fee if I haven't done any screening.

I don't return fees if I have done any work on the application.

Normally, it takes a couple of days to get the screening done, so I start working on all applications at the same time. But if one applicant looks particularly good, I might hurry and get his screening done, without working on the others, and return the other fees.

Basically, I don't think it is ethical to take a fee when I know that I don't have a unit available.

Drew,

My hard and fast rule that works EVERY time

***It ain't rented til it's rented***

(paid and signed)

I'm in favor of returning app fees if you did not process the app

BUT...

we process EVERY app because that first good one might drag his feet or choose a different home. I want the back up apps and I don't want to lose them due to delays. Prospects don't stop looking and applying with the competition just because they applied with me.

We give the first one 24 hours to sign and pay. They can now sign my lease online and pay the deposit online with check or credit card. No waiting.

We also call #2 and #3 and ask if they are still interested if #1 does not sign. Keeps them "warm".

BRAD