Just had an applicant who gave zero info about himself on Zillow proclaim: "I am veeeerry interested in the apartment, but I do not fill out intake forms or provide my personal phone number before viewing a property in person. If the unit is currently available for an in person walkthrough, please let me know the physical address and what dates and times I can come tour it"

Already this guy is trying to steer the ship. This guy won't even give his PHONE NUMBER out. Must work for the CIA.

Can you imagine what other demands someone like this would make after you rented to them? I'll predict the list would be long and there would be additions to it every week.

Maybe you can meet up and drive him to your rental?

Put him in the back of a cargo van. Hood over his head. Drive around for a while, constantly changing directions.

Ask if that would be okay with him.

Better yet, just DQ and ignore.

Future problem so eliminate now.

I would straight up tell him he sounds like he would make a difficult tenant that I'm going to pass on him.

I do understand why some may want to be a little evasive right off but honestly, asking a few simple questions that don't really provide anything other than basic information - what's the harm?

These are the same people that also think that a 4 bed house with granite counters, etc and that the owners are "out of the country" and just want someone to care for their home while they are gone so they'll give them the keys for $400 and the rent would include all utilities for $1000 a month are ok with that... but you ask them their name ... "oh, that's too personal".

Maybe don't call it an application. Maybe a nice neutral word like "information form" or something non buzzwordy would work.

Ken- I get it about not filling out the app first. But that is part of my screening process. I do not charge them so they are out a little time. If they don't do it I am not out the time to check on them.

Saves me from waiting at a place only to see a person come in that I want nothing to do with. Helps to weed them out I guess.

Maybe if things get tight around here and prospects are few and far between I will rethink my process. But for now if they want to play, they have to apply.

It doesn't sound like it was anything close to an application - just Zillow info.

My pre-qual form asks for name, email, phone # and a few, auto-DQ questions.

Nothing particularly "personal". How are you supposed to contact them about a showing if you have no contact info?

I understand someone not wanting to be scammed, but...if it's too good to be true, like johnny described..... you should be able to see that.

I can see 2 things going on here with my minimal experience and life learning. But let me first say this, I completely understand your reasoning for not wanting to disclose the address and for your hesitation to deal with this tenant. That said, I also completely understand that this tenant is likely feeling this is a scam because of all the information you ask on your prescreen and also not disclosing an address for the rental. There are a lot of scammers out there doing this same thing.

I would probably set up an open house time and invite this person and see where it leads.

However, I am finding it interesting as to the responses other than Kens. I think Ken is on track. Still yet, I am learning from your post.

Richard, this is my normal canned response to which he got on his hind legs about:

Hey Zero,

If you have them fill out an application first with no fees, do you run a credit check and eat the cost? Or do you not do a credit check?

At this point I have never run a credit check on anyone.

I know, I know... shame on me.

When I get the info I check my state's database. It is very good and well kept.

If I see things like evictions, repo's, lots of stops for seatbelt or center line crossings, and collections I know we have some stuff going on.

Bye, Felicia.

*shrug* I can't set up an appointment if I can't contact them. So, I guess we are done at that point.

Actually, I have EVERYONE fill out an application and pay for screening reports before ANY of them see the property.

Because they come from NM, OR, MO, TX, etc

That's why I have VERY detailed photos AND video tours online. It's just about like seeing it in person.

However, with these folks, I DO talk to them on the phone (after they complete the pre-qual form)& answer any questions - and we each "get a feel for" each other while we speak. Then they get the full, formal application.