How do you all deal with parents at a lease signing? The ones who like to hover around and ask 1,000 questions about the unit their little princess is about to live in.

I don't have an issue with it now, but another landlord and I are talking about it at the moment about how it's just one of those things we can't stand.

I need a way to keep them out of the unit during lease signing, without seeming like a total _______.

Maybe mentioning something about letting them do a walk through with little Johnny or Katie and then to wait outside while we sign lease.

I think sometimes parents want to be the hero and save their teen from danger, so they need to say something and take action at the lease signing meeting. I have parents question "isn't a gas dryer an explosion hazard?" or at the lease signing: "how about we postpone the lease signing until I can work up a housemate agreement they can all sign?"

I put up with it because: a lot of good kids have involved parents, it doesn't happen that often and usually when it does, the lease signing meeting is the last I hear of them, and sometimes a parent makes a good group leader and collects rents.

And usually I'm not signing a lease at the rental property. My sequence is: house tour, applications, then lease signing and submitting security deposits, which I usually do at my house.

I see nothing wrong with parents helping young adults with a legal contract. We teach our kids all kinds of life skills from crib onward.

I usually view it as having tenants who have a local support base-- which is a healthy thing. Whether it's an extra hand with the kids, or an extra hand in keeping the finances straight, or an extra hand in keeping things tidy--- having involved parents/grandparents increases the chances of a young adult's success when the unexpected happens.

I had an open house at one of my "A" properties in a "B" area location. A couple expecting their first child showed up with both sets of parents asking a bunch of questions. By the time they got around to making a decision, I had already accepted and processed an application during this open house.

So in their foreign language the were saying to one another I didn't accept them because she was expecting and I didn't want children. I responded in English that I have another vacancy a few blocks away and headed to my next open house. So they drove over to this property, a "B" property in a "B" location.

Again with the questions. Again before they could make up their minds, an hour passed and I accepted another applicant. I told them that I had another vacancy another few blocks away and was conducting an open house tomorrow. They asked if I could show them the unit today. I said, "Sure" -- meet you then in 1 hour.

Have a talking lease (i.e. recording) of your move-in spiel. People are less likely to interrupt an MP3/recording.

Also, set the expectation up front. "Congratulations Mr./Mrs. Smith on your daughter's new home. We only have one hour to get thru this and there's a lot to be done so let's get started!"

Then move briskly. Have a checklist. When time is up...it's up.

I have more tenants who want to see the lease in advance. all the time in my B building. Young professionals come to town w/ parent and zoom around and look at rentals. Don't usually see them again til moving day. I send a pdf of a 'draft' lease with no space to put names or info and write draft throughout the text so no one can try to claim it is a valid lease. Certainly doesn't have my name on it. If you did this it would cut down on questions at the signing.

I like that they read it and know what is expected of them.

I rent to a lot of first timers. I like it when the parents come to look, shows they have someone to borrow the rent from if necessary. Dads ask the questions the kids don't think of, but we have the right answers so that's no biggie.

I tell them during showings the lease is 14 pages, and to read it carefully and ask questions before signing it.

BillW - Please tell me that I am not reading the following statement you wrote above correctly - "And usually I'm not signing a lease at the rental property.... then lease signing and submitting security deposits, which I usually do at my house."

I can't hide from many of my tenants, Jeffrey, as they live on property. It's a small beach and finding us is too easy, everything is online. Look up my name online and NC publishes voter registration with addresses. Which is why we have a gun in the house.

Bill, having good tenants is important but you never know who they are associated with. Had the boyfriend of a prospective tenant - she screened fine - get arrested for trafficking in heroin. Another had one with multiple assault arrests and lots of "damage to personal property" charges over multiple years. Had a guy who screened fine but his GF had SERIOUS assault charges against another woman and was later arrested for dealing.

A few years ago a young couple and mom and dad were looking at my vacancy. Son would ask a question and dad would finish the sentence. After two minutes of this I said one more question from anyone not interested in living here I’m leaving. Son took dad aside and dad shut up.

The most infamous student I've rented to was a girl who was involved in a paddling hazing incident. I didn't find out until after I rented. But she never tried to paddle me or any of my tenant,s so it worked out ok.

Privacy and security is every LL's dream. I got a kick out of never a problem and been doing it 13 years. REALLY!!!!

IT only takes one problem.... as you can read in the paper every day.

College Park man was fixing up his rental when he didn't come home his wife went to check on him-- he had been shot. Wife said we've never had a problem before..

When we were novices we thought it was OK to have rent brought every month-- until we found cash sitting in the drop box. Drop off rent in the morning-- have friend comeback and get it that night! wink wink. who can take those chances nowadays?

Don't be foolish-- AKA be a fool.

myob, it seems to me if someone wanted to hurt you, they could do it without knowing your address. You described in your example, how that could happen.

One reason I do a lease signing at my house, is so students can see I don't sleep on a giant pile of gold (with cash for cushioning). By talking to students all the time and running surveys, I understand what's important to them in housing and make it happen. I'm selective to who I rent to and I treat my student tenants with respect, and for the most part, they act in kind. In 13 years, no one has intentionally damaged my house, as far as I can tell (lots of wear and tear, to be sure)

BillW,

My reaction was the same as Jeffrey's.

Times have changed. If you love your family you will NOT invite strangers into your home. You've been lucky so far but the odds are catching up to you.

"Never had a problem" is NOT an excuse for lack of security. That's like my friend who does not wear a seat belt because he's "never had a problem".

Seeing your standard of living will not deter renters from seeing the LL as a rich bully.

We simply sign at the rental or MacDonalds.

Do it for the ones you love.

BRAD

NE,

I've only had parents show up a few times in many years. Usually they attend for moral support or to supply deposit money and hang off to the side.

Parents can make or break a deal so I'm OK helping the parents understand what we are doing.

Most recent lease signing with a parent - the Mom emphasized the parts about paying on time, how our autodraft was great for the daughter (resident), and made certain the daughter understood the ELT. Interestingly the daughter got married and bought a house before the lease ended so this MOTHER paid the $2000 ELT!

I've been on the parent end, myself. When our eldest rented for the first time, I went to the showing and the lease-signing as moral support and "interpreter" (for lease language).

I made it clear to the rental agent that was my role, and that I understood that I had no standing to be contacting her at all in the future, unless there was an emergency.