What are the best qualifying questions to ask a tenant's previous landlords and employers?

LL's:

#1 Would you rent to them again? (but I ask this last...)

* Did they pay rent on time, were they ever late?

* Did they take care of the property?

* Did they leave it clean and in good condition?

* Were there ever any issues with the police or with neighbor complaints?

WHY???? -- I need pay checks or 1040's------ don't trust no stickin LL reference---- have you reads some of the LL's posting here?

Let your credit report-- and DIGGING into court records work for you. Marry them up to the credit ---- you see old address on credit report-- look up that address in county records see who owner is and call owner.

Be sure to ask if their pet caused any trouble.

Ask the landord if he is related to the tenant.

Was the tenant cooperative about repairs.

Did the tenant get his security deposit back.

Did the tenant smoke in the unit.

Did the tenant move in unauthorized tenants.

So far. I've not had landlords lie to me, but I always check with the prior landlord, too. If the current landlord had problems, they are happy to complain to me about the tenant

Clean past won't guarantee a smooth sailing future, meaning, even an excellent tenant is only a one loss of job, a one sickness or injury away from becoming a non paying tenant.

Paul,

Finding the good ones starts with beautiful curb appeal and a clean, updated home.

Then great photos on Zilllow to reach the good ones and a super smooth n easy application/showing process. Good people don’t tolerate bad business procedures.

We contact present and previous LLs. If the present LL says They’re good we ignore it. Easily a lie to get rid of them. If he/she says they’re bad we believe it.

We lean on the PREVIOUS LLs reply.

AND a super biggie: the required 2 Minute In Home Visit. This can be more telling than any LL reference.

Side note: I’m blown away with the number of LLs who do not have records of payments or have not been inside their investment and know what it looks like somoften the LL reference is worthless.

And learn how to not be scammed.

BRAD

And many LLs are not...objective.

About 15 years ago, before In Home Visits were on my radar I did a drive by of a house with 4 Mexican men who had applied. The LL had warned me the house was a disaster so I was curious.

They had 4 clean trucks parked in the driveway. My applicant was washing his truck so I stopped to talk with him. He invited me inside so I thought great. I saw last night’s pizza box and 2 empty beer bottles on the table. The kitchen was otherwise clean, trash can with a plastic bag liner, nothing in the sink, bedroom mattresses were on the floor but each bed was made and had a small box or table with alarm clock and family photos.

Those “filthy” residents have now lived in mine rental for 15 years without complaints and keep the place clean.

That previous LL even came back to warn me how they would wreck my house too. Seems his biggest concern was them filling up the driveway with (neatly parked) vehicles.