Want to do it right (by Afsaneh ( Sunny) Can [MO]) Jun 11, 2022 10:31 AM
Want to do it right (by WMH [NC]) Jun 11, 2022 10:58 AM
Want to do it right (by plenty [MO]) Jun 11, 2022 2:16 PM
Want to do it right (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Jun 11, 2022 2:25 PM
Want to do it right (by Robert J [CA]) Jun 11, 2022 4:58 PM
Want to do it right (by Allym [NJ]) Jun 11, 2022 5:57 PM
Want to do it right (by melinda [MD]) Jun 11, 2022 7:07 PM
Want to do it right (by MAP [NY]) Jun 11, 2022 9:19 PM
Want to do it right (by MC [PA]) Jun 12, 2022 8:04 AM
Want to do it right (by Roz H [PA]) Jun 13, 2022 10:35 AM
Want to do it right (by Mack [NC]) Jun 13, 2022 10:41 AM
Want to do it right (by Graham [FL]) Jun 13, 2022 11:01 AM
Want to do it right (by Steve [NY]) Jun 13, 2022 11:01 AM
Want to do it right (by Carmen [VA]) Jun 13, 2022 11:08 AM
Want to do it right (by Naj [FL]) Jun 13, 2022 11:18 AM
Want to do it right (by Christine [OK]) Jun 13, 2022 12:20 PM
Want to do it right (by Jeffrey [VA]) Jun 13, 2022 3:36 PM
Want to do it right (by 6x6 [TN]) Jun 13, 2022 5:47 PM
Want to do it right (by MC [PA]) Jun 14, 2022 9:34 AM
Want to do it right (by Daisy [GA]) Jun 14, 2022 3:19 PM
Want to do it right (by Lumberman1987 [PA]) Jun 15, 2022 2:40 PM
Want to do it right (by Mack [NC]) Jun 16, 2022 7:38 AM
Want to do it right (by dan b [OR]) Jun 17, 2022 11:38 PM
Want to do it right (by Afsaneh ( Sunny) Can [MO]) Posted on: Jun 11, 2022 10:31 AM Message:
State Specific Question About: MISSOURI (MO)
Hello, my house will be available to rent within next month, in past I advertised on Zillow, gave my number and email and I was bombard with texting and calls. and then I had to go show the house in all times that they were available and that took so long and some crazy people! How can I safely and efficiently rent my house to save time and to weed through bad ones? I like to get some information from them before contacting them and check them on net case! please let me know how you guys are doing it!
Thank you --96.35.xx.xxx |
Want to do it right (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Jun 11, 2022 10:58 AM Message:
You will get a variety of ideas, pick the one that sounds like it will work for you!
We do not publicize our phone OR email, but direct people to our preview questions (A Google Form.) We quickly weed out those who do not qualify for a variety of reasons: income, eviction history, etc.
I schedule showings on a few specific days, 15 or 20 minutes apart, and invite only the pre-qualified to those showings (We use another Google Form from which they can choose a pre-set time.)
We confirm they are coming on the day of the showing via email or text. Fail to confirm and you are blacklisted.
We meet and show. We talk about the way we do business, our expectations of our residents, etc. and provide a link to our application (another Google Form.) They email copies of drivers license and pay stubs/proof of income.
We do background and credit checks.
Only then do we offer a lease. Full deposit (2x the rent) is due at lease signing, full rent is due before they get the keys. --50.82.xxx.xxx |
Want to do it right (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Jun 11, 2022 2:16 PM Message:
First of all raise the rent. It may have been too low before. Let the calls go to voicemail and return calls once aor twice a day when you are at your desk. --172.56.xx.xxx |
Want to do it right (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Posted on: Jun 11, 2022 2:25 PM Message:
When I list on line, I never include a phone number. I also don't allow Zillow, or whatever listing site to make appointments for me. Facebook allows me to email (with coded email addresses) back and forth which is nice. My best success on finding Tenants is to hold an Open House where everyone who wants to see the place can just show up on the specified day. I am there, people can walk through and if interested, pick up an application, which I then sort though when they are returned. I vet the returned applications and then I call the 'chosen' ones giving priority to the first in, first called. It's worked well for the past 24 years. Of course, you have to dedicate a day or weekend to this and stay around and chat a lot. Sometimes there are a bunch of people all at once, and sometimes only one. Always a fun time. I provide bottled water and masks and hand sanitizer. --174.65.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Jun 11, 2022 4:58 PM Message:
It's hard to show vacancies when you make yourself too available. I differ my ads depending if it's an "Apartment" where I have my other tenants eyes looking at people coming by ready to call the police or property manger if someone up to no good!
With a single family house that is vacant, I worry about a squatter breaking in, so I employ private security who will arrest trespassers, unlike the police that consider breaking and entering a Civil Matter.
When I list a rental I will have full pictures on line of the interior and exterior (my buildings and SFR show nicely). I allow someone to "Drive by" to look at the neighborhood and the property--not to knock on doors, etc. Then I will have two to three open houses during the week. One in the morning on one day and a second at the evening (after work) on another day. And a third on weekends. That means I will make appointments and stick around for 30 or 45 minutes if there is a now show.
--47.156.xx.xx |
Want to do it right (by Allym [NJ]) Posted on: Jun 11, 2022 5:57 PM Message:
With Zillow I got text messages through Zillow then texted the people back to ask a few questions and if they replied I considered their answers and offered a looksee. That's how I got the tenant who is moving in next week. Questions were simple: Why are you leaving your current home? How many pets do you have? How soon do you need the rental? And whatever others you have that will fit the unit. Beware of trick questions from them such as Do you accept children. Here in NJ we have to accept children and any legitimate provable method of payment. So Where do you work? is not an acceptible question. It's How will you be paying for the apartment? --108.24.xx.xx |
Want to do it right (by melinda [MD]) Posted on: Jun 11, 2022 7:07 PM Message:
Keep a list of full names and phone numbers and your comments s you discuss things with each caller. Some will call you many times which is annoying if they really are not someone who you want to deal with . --24.233.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by MAP [NY]) Posted on: Jun 11, 2022 9:19 PM Message:
Another vote for keeping a database of applicants. I have one in particular who blew me off (twice) a couple of years ago that I would never rent to based on that alone. Yet she keeps calling (must constantly be searching for housing as she is that bad of a tenant).
I've gotten very paranoid with the extended eviction moratoriums here in the Peoples Republic of NYS that I don't even show the unit until the person has completed the full application and passed the preliminary checks. --72.231.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by MC [PA]) Posted on: Jun 12, 2022 8:04 AM Message:
We work around our schedule while working there. You need a really good reason for me to go on my time. Ran out too many times for someone who lied on the phone about the qualifications. We do the Open House as well. Facebook ad and check their profile and criminal before giving the address. No Pets means no pets-I shouldn't see your FB with 2 dogs you don't mention to me. We have also given our number and asked to call when potential tenant is enroute. No call means I am not stopping what I am doing. Specifically we put no texts-I want to hear what you will say. Write down your criteria and ask it over the phone-put it in your ad. I ran checks on people who flat out lied. I don't feel bad taking their money. Don't run the check UNTIL you have the money for it. I also have records of who ditched me when they should have been at a showing that is FB-a record.
Especially in today's market-double check everything. I agree, you might have listed too low. --73.230.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by Roz H [PA]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 10:35 AM Message:
I strongly agree that all info should be verified. I rented to a couple who checked all the boxes/qualified. After renting to them a few months later, I started seeing red flags. Turns out the address on the women's Driver's license was a vacant lot (prprobably more recently a tear down)! --174.240.xxx.xxx |
Want to do it right (by Mack [NC]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 10:41 AM Message:
What are you preview questions that you ask a prospect before scheduling a showing ? Where can I get a list of those questions ?
Thank you --149.168.xxx.x |
Want to do it right (by Graham [FL]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 11:01 AM Message:
Or use an automated showing system like Rently or Tenant Turner. Anyone prepared to share the questions they ask on a Google form. --24.227.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by Steve [NY]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 11:01 AM Message:
I also don't list my phone number or email, I let Craigslist select a random email name and instruct the potential tenant that they must include their name and contact number in their reply and that I will NOT reply to them without it. Amazing the number of people who either don't read the instructions or chose not to follow them. Those that don't deserve my time and get deleted.
Those that follow the directions I try and call back within the same day and start my screening questions, those that pass that and then set up for a personal showing. By doing your due diligence early I have found that those that are shown the property are likely to be good prospective tenants. This way I'm not spending hours on end doing Open Houses and having prospects badgering me about wanting the property.
The process has worked well for me for over 30 years. --172.100.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by Carmen [VA]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 11:08 AM Message:
We've been using Zillow for a couple of years now and love it. We post our qualifications in our ad (income, credit, no rental judgements, non-smokers only). We schedule showings for approved Zillow applicants only. Our last listing in May generated 150+ inquiries & 32 applications, which resulted in us inviting 11 applicants to view and 5 of those showed up for Open House showings scheduled on a Saturday at a time for convenient for us. We don't respond to any phone calls; it would be impossible. To the 150+ email inquiries, I respond with the Zillow listing information (copy, paste & send) because they clearly didn't read it if they're contacting me. So far, I haven't received an inquiry question that wasn't addressed in the listing. I'm amazed that even after posting the qualification criteria; we still receive applications that don't meet the minimum income requirement (3x rent) or rental judgements are on their credit report and/or background check. I love using Zillow to pre-screen applicants. It's so much more efficient. --216.54.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by Naj [FL]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 11:18 AM Message:
For any prospect tenant, we email our application. After reviewing the qualified applicants (selected one at a time) we ask for a cashier check for a background report. If application matches we invite prospect. however, any lies found cause a termination and no return of background check money. The key to a good tenant is always a detailed background check. --107.195.xx.xxx |
Want to do it right (by Christine [OK]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 12:20 PM Message:
I typically respond to everyone's messages with my standard pre-qualification questions. It's a lengthy process these days, but with the post covid-19 and all we learned on eviction halt has made us stronger and wiser.
I typically find maybe 5 strong applications that I would like to meet for showing. I have used Turbo Tenant which is free for landlord's, but you have to agree to let them pull the credit reports for you that the applicant initiates which is $45. I can't count how many times people yelled at me because they didn't read our criteria for occupancy and basically wasted their money. I liked it other than that. You can't turn off the up option on credit reports to do yourself.
Been doing this 30 years and seemed to have seen it all. One guy in his screening process said in his phone call interview, message prescreening questions and even on his application that he didn't have any pets. Would you believe the FIRST day he had three German Shepherds in the front yard! I immediately gave him a 10 day breach of lease like we have to in Oklahoma. He said they were his dad's dogs and what was the big deal? Wanted to just slide me some money and stay. If they lose your trust the FIRST day, I am done! In the short time they were there, we had to bring in dirt and make repairs. It all depends on the owner though on the dog. --172.58.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by Jeffrey [VA]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 3:36 PM Message:
Christine (and others who may be interested), you can run credit reports through TenantCreditChecks.com for as low as $9.95. Even when you run all 3 of the main screening reports, credit, eviction and criminal reports, the price is only $24.95. --65.207.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Jun 13, 2022 5:47 PM Message:
Want to do it right (by MC [PA]) Posted on: Jun 14, 2022 9:34 AM Message:
Always run your own credit check. Double check address that they have listed with the owner on record. I have had several who gave a buddy's number-caught them in simple lies-I asked about the rent amount and utilities. Check court records for criminal and evictions. --73.230.xxx.xx |
Want to do it right (by Daisy [GA]) Posted on: Jun 14, 2022 3:19 PM Message:
I have been in the business 24 years and this is what works best for me and my team. As phone calls and inquiries come we have a spreadsheet and during the call we ask these questions: name and contact information section 8 or income(how you are going to pay rent work, income)number of children and number of adults, if they have pets, the date that they called or emailed, Then we have a daytime open house and an after work open house. --76.17.xxx.xxx |
Want to do it right (by Lumberman1987 [PA]) Posted on: Jun 15, 2022 2:40 PM Message:
When we advertise on Zillow, my first line is: "emails will not be returned. Please call if serious inquiry. Too many spammers, sorry"
We still get inquiries through Zillow and I don't respond. If nothing else, it shows me first and foremost that people don't follow direction. And do you really want a tenant that can't follow direction? That is my first of several screening points to see if they follow directions. For the ones that do pick up the phone, they've actually been the best, and now, long-term renters. --50.107.xxx.xxx |
Want to do it right (by Mack [NC]) Posted on: Jun 16, 2022 7:38 AM Message:
Where do I get a list of prequalifying questions you ask the prospective tenants before a showing ? --174.247.x.xx |
Want to do it right (by dan b [OR]) Posted on: Jun 17, 2022 11:38 PM Message:
I put together a virtual video and link that to the ads, this enables the potential occupants to do a virtual walk-through and I even show them the neighborhood as well as all the way through the property.
Neighboring parks, schools and other attractions might be something that you want to add? I have one property that is just about three blocks from downtown, and people absolutely love that.
In my ad I actually have a number of different questions, and some of those I simply ask the people when they contact me. Who will be living with you at the property?
Have they lived with you in the past?
Have either of you been evicted or convicted of any crimes?
For any reason. Have you file bankruptcy?
How long do you plan to stay in the property? Personally I like it when they tell me the rest of their life.
This is my preference. :-)
I always do an interior inspection of their local rental reference where their living now!
Another question is where you moving from the current location that you're at now?
What date are you looking to move?
The virtual video walk-through, and saliva stupid questions that you have to deal with. Personally myself I am using options they are a unilateral contract and they can help you avoid landlord-tenant laws. Limits on your deposit and items like that can make a big difference. Not for everyone, but for some owners.
To your success,
Dan Butler --97.120.xx.xxx |
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