I am getting way too many people who are responding to my online Ads that do not have the required move-in funds . Is there a way to keep these people from answering my Ads?

I posted a new Ad on CL this morning. I was 'tempted' to write in the body that if you do not have the deposit and 1st month's rent

($ 1,300.00) available right now,...please do not waste my time by answering this Ad.

Roy, my friend! Have you ever noticed that people don't READ your ads? Why would they read your "don't waste me time" if they aren't reading anything else now?

Nope, they click the "I'm SUUUUUPER interested" button on 50 ads and hope to find one mom 'n pop land lord who will let them wheedle and whine their way into the unit for $100 and a promise to pay the rest. They do not care about your time or your unit. They care about one thing: getting to move in for almost nothing.

That's why you must have a canned pre-screening response that takes no more than 5 seconds of your time to copy/paste/send. Then see if they follow instructions.

One question on my app asks "If approved, can you pay the 1st rent payment and deposit immediately?" If anything other than "Yes", I ignore it. It takes me a couple of seconds to find and evaluate this response.

So...we can't PREVENT them from wasting our time, but we can LIMIT the amount of our time they waste. It's sort of like pest control...we can't eliminate them, but we can control them.

In the case you mentioned above, I would have spent possibly up to 10 seconds....not a big deal. Even with 100 prospects, I spend no more than 15 minutes weeding out the obviously unqualified.

"Nothing beats a trial, but a failure!" So they try..... and try and try. Then they get lucky and the landlord falls for their sob story, and eventually the landlord is sorry and so it goes.

I was tempted to contact a landlord on FB advertising when I saw that a proven loser is interested in their ad. Presently has a case pending in court with a landlord that I know. They are being represented by Va Legal Aid, which is ridiculous because I believe the 2 of them still have good jobs, but 2 thoughts crossed my mind.

1. I passed when they contacted me, after I did my due diligence and a previous landlord told me he wouldn't rent a dog house to them and

Sid,

Maybe not your Ads,..but they are reading my Ads. When they call and ask what my 'Pet Friendly' pet fees are,...I can tell they are reading my ads.

Again, I am so tempted to go back and re-write my CL ad I posted this morning. I need to find the right words so I don't irritate the legit prospects.

Roy - try this: "First and Security due at signing (total of $1,300) - NO EXCEPTIONS".

"Have your move in funds in hand and be ready to go when you call!"

"The house is ready, you be too!"

They seem to read clever stuff and miss the facts.

Cjl,

I do not even want to show the house and give an application to someone who does not have required move-in funds.

List.

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Application $10

Credit report $40

Deposit $500

1st months rent due at move in $600

Pet fee $150

Additional pet rent $25.

I think it counterproductive to screen at the point of advertisement.

It is time to get other systems for advertising, showing, and applications. The smart phone has made our old ways ineffective.

Roy, we're not talking about the people who ask about pet fees... yes, they are reading your ad...they have money (probably)...they are planning ahead (most times). I get a few of those too, but they are the small minority. Today in this post we're talking about what to do with the ones who don't read and are time-wasters.

Maybe don't answer the phone...instead have your voicemail direct them to an online "pre qualification" (call it what you want) website that asks them a few basic questions and then sends that "form" to you...you can call them if they answer the questions to your satisfaction. Once they see the question on the website...

"Do you CURRENTLY have $1,300 for first month's rent and deposit that would be immediately available if you are approved?"

They may not fill out the questionnaire.

Roy,

I seems you guys waste more time trying to automate things where you don’t have to interact with applicants than you would if you would just let them call you. I place ads and if they email I shoot back an email telling them our houses are non smoking only and pets are on a per case basis, for more info call me and give my # .

I spend maybe 3 min on the phone with them if I like what they say I give them he address tell them to ride by see if they like it and if so call back we will set up a time to see it.

I get them rented within a couple days usually and I’m very picky about who rents my properties. I keep them in excellent condition. I actually have single wides I get 1400.00 @ month for.

I seem to have already t less worries than you guys do there is a very simple way of doing this that requires little time on your part; fantastic tenants that stay5 to 7 years .

I can honestly say I have been a landlord for going on 19 years and have asked 1 of my tenants to leave but never had to evict even one and never had anymore than 1-2 small holes to patch in a wall upon move out.

Most the time my units are left in immaculate condition upon move out I don’t even have to clean.

Trick is keep your properties in immaculate condition, only rent to responsible people: treat them with respect while they are living there.

I have had new 20/year old renters to senior adults and no problem s for 19 years.

Quit trying to get out of doing work and automate everything. You get out of something what you put into it.

There is no way I could spend 3 minutes on the phone with every person who calls about my houses...I have one house on a very busy street and if I put a "for rent" sign out front I have 50 calls by the end of the day....that would be 90 minutes of non-stop talking. The second day I'll get 30 calls, the 3rd day 20 calls, and so on....my phone rings all the time.

I simply let it go to voicemail, and the voicemail has much of the key info. 90% of people hang up after hearing the rent amount or pet policy or so on...the few that remain are directed to send an email so we can contact them for further info.

Each person will have their own way of doing things. WHat works for me may not work for others...and vice versa.

Larry - I see what you're saying about quit trying to automate everything. I can even get behind it somewhat. However, I'm like Hoosier and simply do not have the time to talk to everyone that calls/texts/messages me. 1 house ad will generate over 100 inquiries, 2/3 of which won't qualify. Of the 1/3 left, 1/2 will only be tire kickers or won't be moving for 4 months. I simply have to find a way to weed those out so that I don't spend my whole day on the phone and get nothing else done. I also don't care to hear the sob stories about how and why they can't pay full rent now, but will be happy to catch it up in 2 months.

Dave (MO)

Like you, I answer my phone since I do not mind talking to strangers when they call from one of my online Ads. I actually learn a lot about people from just talking with them on the phone. This is where my initial screening begins,..on that very first phone call. I am trying to figure out how to screen out the ones who have no money to move in,...which is about 50% of them. I got a call today from lady who told me she, her husband and son have been living in a Motel 6 for the last 6 months!

Roy,

Here comes Brad, banging the same old drum

***PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MONEY***

So...

we will sign the lease with the deposit and first week of rent (often just a partial week). They are locked in and moving into MY home while other LLs whine about how nobody has deposit and first month.

They NEED PayDayPlan!

IN real life we will sign with "most" of the deposit but hold the keys until Friday when they have the rest of the deposit.

Gotta talk THEIR language - their financial language.

BRAD