Yeah... it is amazing but I do realize (or do now, I should say) that some sites that they see the ad on are simply grabbing them from either the site I use OR another site that syndicates from one that I use and they actually just don't pull all of the information over.

HOWEVER, I'm sure you do the same as I do in the write-ups (NO PETS or SOME PETS OK, etc) and they still ask because they just don't read. You know... "I've inquired on so many places... what can you tell me about yours?" stuff. Uggh.

The utilities thing gets me... the ones that I have that DO include everyone asks "so what's included" or "how much are the utilities" and it seems the ones that they are NOT included are saying "and everything is included, right?"

What I REALLY want to do is find a way to screen for STUPID PEOPLE and/or LIERs.

I noted some people just click on the pictures and don't read through the ad. I advised them to read the ad when I got stupid questions; then they reply, which ad. They are clicking on ALL the ads they like the pics from. I don't want them because they don't read the lease either.

In my ads, the first thing I say is "as long as this ad is up, the place is available...I will not respond to "is this still available." I then say "tell me a bit about yourself." The ones that READ and follow directions get my attention and a viewing appointment.

I try to include the pertinent information on my ad, and I restate on my text messages.

Address, rent amount, security deposit amount.,Viewing instructions , application link are provided multiple times.

If I am asked a question that is in my previous reply, I message them the the answer to their question is in my previous reply.

All adds up to -

I will answer a couple questions that are in the ad. In each response, I attach following via a cut and paste:

"Blah blah (answer to specific question). You can find this and answers to most other common questions such as rent, deposits, pet policy, utilities, the application process, renter qualifications, and more in our ad on (fill in website)."

If they keep asking the same stuff after 2 responses ... they fail the cooperative/self-sufficiency test. DQ. Clarification is fine, but not just blatant asking.

Example:

Q: What's the rent?

Me: Response regarding rent with cut 'n paste.

Q: What's the deposit?

Me: Response regarding deposit with cut 'n paste.

Do you take pets?

Me: *Crickets.... block phone#, block email.

Sid nailed it with the rental application is like a job interview statement.

I literally had a so called PROPERTY MANAGER from Howard Hanna call "on behalf of a prospective tenant who is tired of filling out applications and being turned down."

WOW not just tenants are doing stupid stuff, Property Managers are too. Then he continued:

Me: Have your inquirer text this number directly and I will send them a link to my prequal form. There are no fees.

PM: "you don't put any qualifications in your ad"

Me: "That's right. I find people are more honest that way when they fill out my prequal form."

I also preached a little "the more NYS keeps passing these ridiculous militantly pro tenant laws, the more difficult it will be for those on the margins to find housing."

Didn't hear from him again

When the tenant goes beyond 2 questions (beating around the bush hoping I'll fall for their sob stories) I just send the link to the prequal one more time and then that's it.

" Is this a scam? "

Why do you ask, is the rent too low?

I am the opposite.

Questions demonstrate interest.

And I know they are looking at 100 homes as they swipe thru the internet sites so I don't expect them to remember each home individually.

And we're not dealing with rocket scientists, just everyday folks looking for a home who might be frazzled and confused.

I try to include ALL info in the ad but I also know more words means less likely to read it.

Other LLs have incomplete ads and odd policies so prospects can get skittish.

We often hear comments about other LLs being rude so little patience goes a long way. Don't let PRIDE get in the way.

Sometimes WE get the lease because we're the only ones who are patient with the questions.

OUR job is to help folks feel comfortable about giving us big chunks of money and moving into OUR homes.

BRAD

PS This might a good job for AI.

Typically if someone can't tell me why the yare moving within the first three or so minutes, I start to tune out. I want to hear death, divorce, medical, job or family. If I don't don't hear any of those, I'll let them know that I will send you the pics to your phone but these pics are the same ones that are online.

We had a prospect "fail" our prequalification questions as his credit was less than 600.

He kept inquiring and we kept sending the same prequalification questions.

After about 5 times back and forth, he sent this unbelievably long answer about how his credit doesn't define him as a person, etc...

Instead of ignoring him, we gave him the address to go look at the home, and he filled out an application. We accepted him. Although his credit was less than 600, he made $100,000 + per year as a nurse and had excellent current and previous references.

He did not have accounts in arrears, he simply owed quite a bit for student loans. He is an excellent Resident and we would take duplicates of him all day long.

NE, I agree it's nothing to do with pride. It's about time management and efficiency.

I do not collect app fees up front like Brad does, so answering those questions is me working for free. I've learned having to manage a day job along with 54 tenants/units that I only have many hours in the day. Do the thing that is most productive and keeps me freed up.

Tenant selection begins with the screening process, but the results of that carry over into the tenancy. I find that self-sufficient applicants tend to be self-sufficient tenants. If they pepper me with questions that are easy to find answers to in the ad (where they somehow miraculously found my phone number!), they also pepper me with questions during the lease period.... and once again it's all in their relatively short (10 pages, one of which is just their payment information for electronic debit) lease. On the other hand, the applicants who read the ad and follow my process are usually some of the easiest to manage folks I rent to.

Renne: That's fine, but I'm curious why he credit was so poor?

You say that he had no accounts in arrears -- so that is good.

You said that he just owes quite a bit in student loans -- but making on-time payments to student loans usually increases your credit score.

And, at $100k/year, he shouldn't have had a debt-to-income ratio problem either even if he had loans for his entire student career in most cases.

So, why was his credit bad?

John... (MI), I am completely in the dark how credit scores are calculated. We use the service that sponsors this site.

The report was very detailed and offered the following...

TransUnion: Score: 489 (FICO Classic 2004)

ResidentScore: Score: 539 (ResidentScore 3.0)

Not enough available credit on revolving accounts

Balance of non-mortgage accounts is too high

Too few revolving accounts

He owes over $288,000, has 38 creditors on the report and had 9 recent credit inquiries. With 38 creditors I am baffled how he can have "too few revolving accounts."

It sounds like he must have a lot more credit accounts at near-maximum capacity based on the info provided here. We'd have to see the full report to know more, but it seems like much more than just his student loans (unless he somehow has like 38 of them). :)