A lot has changed about the tenant screening process and the world in recent decades. We are a more casual society – we dress more casually, speak more casually to strangers, among other things. Still, you can tell a lot about a person from his or her first impression, and that is still an important step in the tenant screening. Sure it’s crucial to obtain their credit report and conduct a background check, to verify their employment and check references. But meeting a prospective tenant face to face satisfies a “gut check” that you can’t get strictly from a written report.
There are a few things to look for when meeting a tenant applicant at the rental property, things that can go a long way toward helping you decide whether the applicant is worthy of becoming your tenant.
- His attire. Applicants likely won’t treat your face-to-face meeting like a job interview; they mostly dress casually, and that’s fine. But are the clothes clean and presentable? Is there basic hygiene? The way a person presents himself says a lot about the value they place on themselves and their interactions with others. If he doesn’t respect himself, he might not respect you.
- His interest. Does he seem honestly interested and excited about the prospect of living in the home? Is he engaged and open with you?
- His questions. Does he ask questions about breaking the lease, pets and other rules that lead you to believe he’ll be trying to get one over on you?
- His application. Are there misspellings and blank spaces? Is it completely filled out? Is he making excuses about what an ex-landlord or employer might say when you call his references? These are all red flags to keep in mind when conducting the tenant screening.
No comments:
Post a Comment