You are not losing out on potential GOOD tenants because a GOOD tenant is cooperative with the process and understands about not wasting someone's time if they don't qualify or meet your standards - one of which is COOPERATION.

Agree with WMH, cooperation is the first item they're being screened against. If they are too entitled or stupid to fill out a simple prescreening questionnaire, they're going to be too entitled or stupid to perform the simplest of maintenance tasks. I've had people try to circumvent the process because in their minds, they're special. But they get dq'd immediately.

It is just me so I don't have the time to run around. For every inquiry on Zillow, Apartments, Realtor, or where ever; everyone gets the same canned message with a link to a google form pre-qual questionnaire.

This screens for compliance. Lazy people are not going to do it. People with a chip on their shoulder or an attitude are not going to do it. You are saving yourself future headaches. One of the screening questions is "Do you net 3x the monthly rent?" If the answer is no they you are wasting everyone's time showing it.

Another asks what their credit score is. It must be 650 or higher for my single family homes. Again you are wasting your time and their money if they apply with a 550 credit score.

You are working smarter not harder.

If the one of the dog responses is "Doberman" or any of the dogs on your banned breed list, or your don't accept dogs, or they have 5 dogs, or whatever your criteria is - your email is "I'm sorry your pet does not conform to our pet policy. Best wishes in your new home search"

If they don't make enough money, your email is "I'm sorry we require you to net 3x the monthly rent. Best wishes in your new home search."

IF their credit score is below your minimum, your email is "I'm sorry your credit score is below our minimum ......"

You just saved everyone a lot of time and effort.

Your generic email, post, message or whatever can go something like this:

Thank you for inquiring about one of our homes for rent.

To see a property, fill out this short prequalification questionnaire. Insert your google form link here AAAAAAA

You will get an email if you do not meet one of the qualifying standards or you will get an email with a link to my calendar. Pick a day and time on my calendar and I will meet you there. ( I use Calendly and have standing appointment times)

The application & animal policy are attached. Qualifying criteria such as credit score, income required, max occupancy can be found on the 1st page of the application.

The application and animal policy is also downloadable from our website at: list your website BBBBBBB

All available properties with pictures and more information can be found here: list your website again CCCCCCC

You may have to copy and paste the links (because people are not bright)

I am seeing 100 + inquiries per listing. It usually just "I'm interested in this house, tell me more"

I send them my canned response. See above.

about 12-15 will fill out the pre-qual

about 6-8 will attend a showing

about 3 will actually turn in an application

This last listing I had two applications. The first person had a credit score below 650 and was denied with no further investigation.

The second one had a 791 credit score and I flew through the application process.

You only need 1 good candidate.

It is true that you may lose some otherwise qualified leads. These folks are showing you in advance that they don't play well with others though. So yes you lose leads, but you gain time.

My pre-screen is my actual application.

They fill that out before they physically get into the place. I have plenty of pictures and information to show them what they are in for.

That being said I do not charge for my applications as of yet. I also do not get 100 inquiries. As in I do not get that in a full year, even if I have multiple places open that year.

Small area and all that. County has under 67k people.

Once they fill out the application, and pass, I send them a combination to the key box so they can look in person.

I pre-screen. I just had one the other day that said "I'm not comfortable providing you with this information" and I said "Then I'm not comfortable showing you the property".

Yeah, I know we may end up losing a good prospective but if they can't even answer their phones then what good is it anyway?

I am a professional (Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker) and I get some of my own "agents" that say "look, this is stupid because they were going to buy a house but decided to rent for now... Just let them see the property" and although I understand where they are coming from, my response is "then why didn't they purchase a house?" All they have is a pre-qual letter from a bank. Those fall through a lot because they don't have the money to put down, etc.

Also, you need to know if they even READ the ad and qualify on other things (not just "can they afford it"). Such as pets (do you allow, limit, etc .. .and do they have them?), number of vehicles - not sure if you have this issue but some properties only have spaces for ONE vehicle, or don't even have parking available. Number of people that are going to live in the property - I mean, I had one person call me regarding a one bedroom apartment and it was 4 people - yeah, that's not happening!

Ha, the pre-qual from the bank is almost always rubbish.

My banker buddy said he would write one up for our dog one time.

All they prove is that you contacted the bank in the first place.

There was a short period of time that I would get them when making offers on places. Most times now they want proof of funds so it is not needed.

Depends on how tenant friendly your area is. If it's Ultra tenant friendly like ours is, you need to pre-screen or you will waste your time with a bunch of people that have 400 credit scores expecting the Taj Mahal. Our area is completely pro criminal, pro squatter pro non-paying tenant so there's no way you want to spend even a second with someone who you'll be in eviction Court in 9 months gone with no rent.