I have a fresh vacancy. There is an interested family that keeps emailing me. The problem is that they don’t want to move in until June1. I’m certainly not holding it for them. I’ve been bombarded with ad responses ( mostly people who don’t come close to qualifying).Typical when an ad first goes online. This family might qualify but I’m not going to lose 2 months rent waiting for them because I know that in my market I will soon have my pick. The place is beautiful and crazy renovated ( marble and granite style renovations). I haven’t shown it yet because I prescreen to get a few qualifiers and then do a group showing. This works for me, I have done 1 showing total and had the past 10 vacancies rented that way. Would you show it to them now but explain that you won’t process their application now because you aren’t holding it for 2 months? I certainly don’t want to be accused of refusing to show a home, but it’s March..... do they really expect anybody to hold a place until June?

Happens all the time. I just say, nicely, "We want it rented for May 1st. We don't care when you move in, though."

Home is vacant and available now. Standard vocal to prospects. Once approved we need the deposit today but no later than tomorrow to take the home off the market. The lease signing can be held no longer than 7 days with a deposit committed.

Rentsdue, reading your post reminds me of how superior my method of canned text responses stored in notes on my phone and links to application and payment for application fees are for my operation.

They said they want to move in on June 1. Did you tell them that you will not hold it until then. Rent starts on xxx day, however they can move in when they want.

I sometimes hold for 30 days maximum if the applicant has all the desirable attributes I like, such as high income, good rental history, 2 adults, 2 small kids and will probably stay 3 + years. No pets or smokers.

Nope. We hold for 2 weeks max for a fee of $400 (applies to deposit if they move in), but after that they must start paying rent regardless if they're ready to move or not.

Sometimes, for a good-looking candidate, I'll charge them a fee equal to half-rent for the privilege of taking a place off the market until it catches up with their schedule. We don't sign the actual lease, we don't do the keys, it doesn't count towards anything--- they have until [date] to do the SD and full rent and sign the lease and get possession.

So, in your case, I'd say something like, "Today's the 21st. Rent is $1000/month. It's about $300 to hold it for the rest of March; it's $500 for April; and it's $500 for May. I'd like to offer you the house. So for $1300, I'll take it off the market until May 31st. You have until May 31st to come up with June's rent of $1000 plus the SD of $500, and sign the lease. Then you'll get the keys and possession. The $1300 is just a fee for the privilege of taking the house off the market until things catch up with your schedule."

Or sometimes, they'll suddenly realize their schedule is a lot more flexible than they thought.

The first time I played this card was for a guy who lived in his mom's house, a block from my rental. He expected me to hold it for free for six weeks or so, until Thanksgiving vacation, so that he didn't have to "waste a weekend" moving his stuff out of his room into his own place.

As a contractor and someone who has pride in their rentals, I always upgrade my units before putting them up for rent. Everything in tip top shape.

So when a clueless applicant expects me to "hold" a unit until they can:

1) Give their current landlord their 30 day notice

2) Save up the 1st and security

3) Arrange movers

4) Make the time to move on cutting into their social life

I explain that I started running my adds yesterday and already have received completed applications from several interested parties. They all have agreed to pay the entire move in cost now with the lease starting within 10 to 15 days.

Start the payments and keys for April, he sure to turn off water manually and other utilities off, early termination to cancel lease payments before natural time expires.

Rents,

I would not show them now unless they indicate they would be willing to take it now if approved. Or let them come with the group showing or open house.

(we only show to approved applicants)

My policy is simple and works EVERY time: it ain't rented til it's rented.

It stays on the open market until an approved person signs, pays, and gets the keys. They can move in whenever they want.

AMAZING how many times they decide to take it now rather than wait.