There is always something suspect when people are just too good to be true. Guy says he is an engineer who is living with his daughter to help her out. He is from out of state so I was able to do a little digging before he got here. Presented as very nice and well spoken. Says he owns his own engineering consulting business and did very well for himself, which of course begs the question - why rent? Wants to move in asap, gives me a check for deposit and security. Run the background check prior employment shows he was a coach bus operator for the past several years. No record of him being licensed as an engineer in his home state of Washington. No record of consulting business. I feel like I am a hockey goalie blocking pucks!

Is not the engineer who drives a train the same thing as an engineer who drives a bus? Consultant who drives a bus is probably a tour guide.

Many times over the year I was surprised that some applicant that were too good to be true, turned out to be "better" than I thought. While most were disappointing story tellers that didn't know the difference between fact or fiction.

One applicant was a short term married couple with a new born and dog. Her father was coming to live with them to help out with the baby so the wife could go back to work. I had just remodeled the house and had new floors and really didn't want a dog living there. So they told me they would give the dog to her nearby sister.

When I ran the trio's credit and called the sister who was listed on the application I learned the following:

A) The husband not only worked for a contracting company, but he was licensed by the State with no complaints.

B) The wife worked for a successful local family business and was listed as an owner. Company value over a million dollars.

C) Her father that was coming to live with them just sold his home and needed a place to live. He's net was over half a million dollars from the sale.