Comments on: How to screen a tenant http://www.landlordshmandlord.com/2006/10/19/how-to-screen-a-tenant/ A blog about being a landlord and investing in real-estate. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:03:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Jenna http://www.landlordshmandlord.com/2006/10/19/how-to-screen-a-tenant/#comment-27310 Sun, 18 May 2008 01:20:54 +0000 http://www.landlordshmandlord.com/2006/10/19/how-to-screen-a-tenant/#comment-27310 Being a landlord once and having a herendous situation on our hands...I would have greatly appreciated this info 2 years ago. It is very concise and thorough. We should have done a <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/free-tenant-background-check/" rel="nofollow"> tenant background check </a>, and wrote up a residential lease. We did a favor for a "friend of the family" and it backfired on us. Now she owes us $5000 and I don't even think it is worth pursuing. Be careful with anyone you are renting to. You can't trust anyone, no matter who they are. Being a landlord once and having a herendous situation on our hands…I would have greatly appreciated this info 2 years ago. It is very concise and thorough.
We should have done a tenant background check , and wrote up a residential lease. We did a favor for a “friend of the family” and it backfired on us.
Now she owes us $5000 and I don’t even think it is worth pursuing.
Be careful with anyone you are renting to. You can’t trust anyone, no matter who they are.

]]> by: Jessica Beganski http://www.landlordshmandlord.com/2006/10/19/how-to-screen-a-tenant/#comment-23 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:32:17 +0000 http://www.landlordshmandlord.com/2006/10/19/how-to-screen-a-tenant/#comment-23 Rick: I've been a landlord for a few years and I've learned a few things through trial and error that help me to find the best tenants. I'm not sure what your rental market is like but I find these strategies work pretty well in Connecticut. 1. Don't underprice. Huge mistake because you get a lot of tire kickers. Price your rent at or just above market rent in your area. 2. Advertise where your best or most likely renters are. I had first advertised in a local newspaper and found that I got a lot of calls from unqualified people. I switched to craigslist.com because my property is located in a hot area for young couples or college students. Plus, my advertising was free and I could post pictures. 3. To comply with fair housing, I have a sheet typed up and printed out. I read exclusively from that sheet and don't make anything up as I'm going along. I don't want one person claiming I said something to them that I didn't say to another. I also keep copious notes from callers - date, time and name. 4. I set up an open-house on a weekend. I tell callers the time and the location. If they're interested, they come. If they're qualified, they come. If they're motivated, they come. I don't waste time meeting different people. Plus, it's the most fair arrangement for my current renters. I bring my property details sheet with me, along with applications. I always rent the apartment to qualified tenants! I may have included a few other things in a post on my blog http://berealct.wordpress.com/2006/10/18/tenant-screening-find-and-keep-the-best/ Rick:

I’ve been a landlord for a few years and I’ve learned a few things through trial and error that help me to find the best tenants. I’m not sure what your rental market is like but I find these strategies work pretty well in Connecticut.

1. Don’t underprice. Huge mistake because you get a lot of tire kickers. Price your rent at or just above market rent in your area.

2. Advertise where your best or most likely renters are. I had first advertised in a local newspaper and found that I got a lot of calls from unqualified people. I switched to craigslist.com because my property is located in a hot area for young couples or college students. Plus, my advertising was free and I could post pictures.

3. To comply with fair housing, I have a sheet typed up and printed out. I read exclusively from that sheet and don’t make anything up as I’m going along. I don’t want one person claiming I said something to them that I didn’t say to another. I also keep copious notes from callers - date, time and name.

4. I set up an open-house on a weekend. I tell callers the time and the location. If they’re interested, they come. If they’re qualified, they come. If they’re motivated, they come. I don’t waste time meeting different people. Plus, it’s the most fair arrangement for my current renters. I bring my property details sheet with me, along with applications. I always rent the apartment to qualified tenants!

I may have included a few other things in a post on my blog http://berealct.wordpress.com/2006/10/18/tenant-screening-find-and-keep-the-best/

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