"For me I ask 3 prescreening questions"

Please share your THREE questions.

My questionnaire has 7-

Thank you Pmh(TX).

I am just curious about priority information of other LLs like to gather up front.

For example my digital questionnaire focuses on:

-number of people (septic tank & with 4 colleges is this

family group or roommate group)

-Income

-Pets- type and number

I was an analyst by trade at a day job years ago. That affects how I analyze problem. To come up with pre-screening questions I looked at a stack of apps I collected when I just invited everyone. I bounced them against the my internal qualifications I use in screening and found that by using just 3 questions I would have eliminated well over 90% of the unqualified (6 questions would have taken it over 99%. I was concerned that if I was too invasive in pre-screening that some good qualified applicants would see it as too burdensome for something they hadn't even seen yet so I settled on just 3. I share my methods because it would be better to do your own analysis to determine the right questions based on what you are seeing in applications and your own qualification list.

Here's what I cut and paste back to them when I get the "is this still available":

Yes. Could you answer three quick questions and I would be happy to show it to you. 1) When are you planning on moving? 2) what is the total combined monthly income from all occupants? and 3) please describe any pets.

If I added a 4th, the next one would have been how long has each occupant been at their current employment. That would complicate it because then I would have had to modify the income question and combine it with this one because in my criteria I don't include income that hasn't been in place for a year when figuring the 3x rent to income. For me, that was too complicated for pre-screning. I intentionally keep it simple in pre-screening.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

What are your moving dates?

How many people?

I suggest y'all change "pets" to "animals".

For me, the top three are: number of people,

Combined household take-home income, and

I have 12 - 9 Yes/No - 3 Simple explanation. What would your current LL say about you? Net monthly Income. I use the 3X Rule. Previous Evictions or ask to leave. Previous Bankruptcy, Judgements.

Credit Score.

criminal background check

How many will be living in the house?

Could you provide a letter of Reference about your character?

Are you new to the area? Yes or No

Do you currently Smoke? Yes or No

Required move in date?

If the questionnaire is NOT fully completed. I do not respond to the inquirer.

I have 3 screening criteria. Over the years I've realized that all of my successful tenants have had these 3 traits in common (note that income is not one of them):

1. No evictions ever filed against you

2. Clean criminal background

3. Excellent verifiable rental history. (I must be able to verify that the landlord is a non-related party to the applicant).

Here is my "copied and pasted reply" to each inquiry:

I'm happy to make arrangements to show you this great apartment.

Please click on the link to view VIDEO tour, specific rental details including rental application: 1983 Lake Ave. Altadena - 2 bedroom

Please tell me a bit more about your search and yourself.

When do you plan to move?

How many people total are moving?

Any animals or pets?

Where are you relocating from?

What brings you to Altadena?

Do you know your general FICO score?

Combined household income?

Shaun,

We don't answer the phone or take voicemails to call them back. I found it was a waste of time because they lie.

Our signs and ads only show our website.

Photos, map, video walkthru, descriptions, schools, PayDayPlan prices, and applications are all on our website.

Talking to me does not get them any further along.

Plus no chance of discrimination - everyone gets the exact same info.

We START with a full application for $25. No need to invest my life (time) with those not ready.

Even with several screening criteria printed on the app (Before you apply...) we still only qualify 1 or 2 out of 20 apps.

BACK when I DID spend HOURS on the phone when an ad came out I QUICKLY sorted thru prospect vs suspects.

First take control of the conversation before they start into their life story. "Let's start with a few questions to help you."

Don't move to the next question until they give a real answer.

1. WHEN do you need place? (eliminates 50%)

2. Are you working? Income? (Eliminates another 50%)

3. How much rent do you pay right now? (Eliminates the wishful thinkers)

It was AMAZING how many callers wanted a rental 6 months from now AND how many were not working, just window shopping.

Fair Housing Law: we cannot deny someone based on a phone call. You have no evidence to support that decision PLUS you do not have a complete picture of their qualifications. NEVER turn someone down or ignore their request. "Everyone is welcome to apply and applications are available to everyone 24/7 thru the website."

Be blameless. LLs get sued for what they SAY.

1. How many people will be living at the property?

2. Do you have any animals? (If so, I ask for breed because our insurance company has restrictions)

3. How long have you been with your current employer (we require 6 months)? This applies to all adult who will be living at the property.

4. Monthly income.

5. Has anyone who will be living at the property been evicted or have any pending evictions?