Several years ago, many frequent posters to this forum offered free applications.

The remainder charged the amount they paid to the credit bureau service with no markup, and no compensation for time to process applications.

I don't recall anyone who had marked up the application fees as a method of screening, or as a profit center.

I have no markup of application fees, but lately it seems that an adjustment may be needed.

Do you think that free applications would be effective to attracting GOOD applicant?

Do you think top of the market application fees are an effective screening tool?

30 per adult and anyone over 18 must do an app. Here's one suggestion-- do leg work first. We can check (on our own) civil and criminal record at no cost to us (no cost out of pocket) we can examine applications-- I mean REALLY examine for fakes (especially pay stubs and checks) APE decimals always line up) -- all this without running the app or being charged.

Maybe, it would certainly reduce the tire kickers who apply at 5 places and then take one of the 4 that aren't yours.

I charge $20. The cost to pull the report is $19.95. Had one guy get all pissy with me when I said both he and his "fiance" had to apply. "How do I know you'll not just keep the fee and deny us? You've already 'MADE' $20 off us!"

I told him what it cost me to pull his credit, so if he was going to begrudge me a nickel compensation for a half hour's work processing his application, then he could go rent somewhere else.

I charge $30.00 per adult per application. When I mentioned that to prospective tenants recently, they mentioned that some apartment places are charging $50.00 or more per person.

I charge $50 for anyone 18 and older.

Sisco,

Great question!

For 40 years I did not charge an app fee in hopes of getting tons of applications, raising my odds of finding a goodun.

We were getting 1-1.25 per day.

Suddenly we were deluged with 150 applications. We were so busy sifting thru deadbeats we probably lost some good people due to the delay. So I set up a $25 fee which covers 2 adults. We could probably charge more but this more than covers what I pay my screener - we make a profit.

LLs need to stop giving away their time for free.

We now get 2 per day and until the past few months, we had a better approval rate than when free.

We do the free stuff first, before paying for a CR.

Do we get better applications than when it was free? Yes.

I have 2 theories:

-perceived value. Free is for cheap junk.

-we make our homes the nicest in town and present great photos. People WANT our homes so they are willing to pay.

I could be totally wrong but at least we have a reason!

A small screening fee is a great first tool to allow dead beats to weed themselves out. I have charged $20 for a long time, but I might raise that just a tad with my next empty that I want to rent out.

I don’t charge, as I’ve always felt that finding the right person was far more important than the $20 or so I might collect on each applicant. And when I tell prospects that, they really appreciate it and it makes me seem like a landlord they’d want to rent from.