Tenant 1: Got her online app in 6 seconds before Tenant 2. Provided all requested documentation and completed her Petscreening form (no pet, but everyone has to fill it out online.) Did NOT do her background check until today so app not done until today.

Tenant 2: Got his app in 6 second later, but completed everything else yesterday. Except Petscreening. But he doesn't have a pet either so it's really not as crucial.

SHE comes with a manager's recommendation - one of our long-term tenants. She is server at our favorite year-round restaurant, makes good money. 3 times the rent, the minimum required but definitely meets the requirements. She's been here a year, but last year was more intern stuff as a dolphin manager with a marine place. She's decided to stay long term thus the serving job (this place stays busy and they make good money.)

HE is in a new-ish position as manager of an online store at a long-term well-known business around here. Makes 4.2x the rent. He's been here since January or so.

Neither one is redneck. She's from NH, he's from CO. Both young, polite, poised, educated.

She has better credit (essentially no credit.) He has student loans.

I choose him.

Restaurant server is a precarious occupation.

THEY SEEM EQUAL. I would want to see the credit pull.

2 incomes always better than one-- especially if you have to garnish.

Get more Dep. reason on the newbies is there new the reason for marine girl-- income shaky.

HAHA Myob. Our apps are online, no penmanship seen.

We offered to the guy and he moved like lightning, signed the lease and sent the deposit. SO there you go.

I'd factor in the following:

Which one is able to "Pay all of the move-in funds and sign a lease first". This requires have a cash reserve and not living from paycheck to paycheck.

And who has the most in savings, retirement funds and the least Monthly Financial Obligations.

Congratulations!

WMH you don't meet the prospect at all?

I'm the type that needs to touchy feel-lee-- like to see the family and car there driving-- especially the inside.

Quick and painless-- great job.

MYOB, I do meet them! After pre-screen when we show them the actual unit, but before application.

We do all the "paperwork" online though, from pre-screen to application to background to lease to deposit to rent.

Both had all the move-in funds, but he moved faster. She did the free application but didn't do the fee-based background check until the middle of the next day. He did everything same day, minutes after he left the viewing. For someone who wants a place, that's typical for us because there is NO HOUSING at all.

Oh as far as deposit, I have already bumped our to the max allowed by law, and our rent went up $200. $1300 for a one-bedroom open-loft cabin! Perfect for a single, almost too small for a couple.

Good choice - now you won't have a tenant potentially serving you at your favorite restaurant, which can't be relaxing. My hubby was a teacher, and we had to be careful about where we ate out - too close to his school, and you could feel the stares.

You know, Wilma, we have had that experience in the past. We'd laugh and say, "Well can't go to that restaurant ever again!" Luckily these days we get good tenants so not as much of an issue.

I have a tenant that works at my credit union.

Not such a bad thing, but when I drive thru to just drop a check off or some such she wants to chat it up about the neighborhood and what not.

Takes me longer. I have actually gone to another branch that was a wee bit out of the way because of it.