6x6's post encouraged me that so many folks are doing the 2 Minute In Home Visits!

Tell us about your bad visits and why you denied.

I'll start: front door had lots of dents and boot marks, like being kicked in.

2 dogs had DUG THRU the hardwood floor at the bedroom door.

Front of house splattered with mud from parking on the grass.

Overly crude and explicit decals on the back window of his truck.

6 pitbull puppies - "They are just puppies - they don't count."

I have only done 2 and still have lots to learn.

Brad, since I started doing the 2 minute home inspection, I have not had to use it to turn anyone away. Everyone home inspection has passed.

Half the time I don't have to do more than a drive-by to reject.

Toys and trash strewn around the yard

Mowing around the piles in the yard with weeds growing through them

Lady on mid 60 on SS came to fill out application with an oxygen tank. No dog listed on application.

Stopped by for in home visit. Dog was found at home during visit. Someone sleeping in bed at 2:00 pm not listed on application. Days old food in pans on stove along with damp towels on bathroom floor.

Lady on mid 60 on SS came to fill out application with an oxygen tank. No dog listed on application.

Stopped by for in home visit. Dog was found at home during visit. Someone sleeping in bed at 2:00 pm not listed on application. Days old food in pans on stove along with damp towels on bathroom floor.

Before I ask or do a home visit on an applicant, I do my homework, finding out that location is a Parents Residence where they crash between tenancy's. OR, belongs to an "X".

When I conduct a Home Visit, I also speak to elderly neighbor who's lived nearby for years--giving me all of the gossip.

Usually I learn the applicant:

Is a Pig!

Has a huge dog!

Junk cars parked on the property!

Drive by for a general overview such as MikeA of Texas does. Look in the trash bin for stuff you don't allow. This always elicits a response so pay attention on how the tenant responds.

Personally I like inspecting bathrooms first and looking at shower stalls or walls surrounding tubs for cleanliness and the area around toilets. A good plus if I see dental floss and half-squished toothpaste tubes. Tell the tenant you need to go to the bathroom and watch their response to see if they look offended, mostly they'll look a little surprised and will give you a moment of privacy.

Do not comment negatively on what you find to the tenant, just say thank you on the way out.

Drove by ahead of time and saw blinds torn up. They had cats and a guinea pig.

Worried a little about the pig. Asked when would be a good time to come over. She asked why, I said for an in-home visit. Just to meet the pets and such.

She said she had to ask her boyfriend and would get back with me.

Drove up and saw "stuff" piled all over the front porch. Upholstered furniture (which always does so well in rain!), lawn chairs, toys, etc.

Inside, I found 3 dogs instead of 2 on the application. As guessed, the "missing" animal was a pit.

Kitchen looked like it was cleaned 3+ years ago. Hole in the floor where I could see into the crawl space with puppy-dog claw marks around it. Just generally cluttered and dirty. Didn't really smell bad, oddly.

I said I'd get back to her if I could get approval. Never had to get in touch. The look on her face as I bid farewell told me she knew. They ALWAYS know.

I.H.V. =

Spider-Man bedsheet askew in the bedroom window, dirty front door, big television on. Go ahead, look around they said. Dirty clothes distributed throughout the house, giant size black trash bags full of fast food wrappers, table covered with an assortment of household goods, bathroom smells of urine, tub is yellowed, Spider-Man bedroom smells of urine, the sickening smell of plug in air fresheners.