As a landlord, it’s always nice to deal with friendly, flexible tenants. During the interview process while you’re reviewing applications, it can be something of a relief to have a family come in and tell you they’re happy to do whatever you need them to do because they’ll accept anything. However, it’s important to be wary of a potential tenant that will accept literally anything you have to offer. Why? We’ll explain.
Know The Warning Signs
Before we get into it, we’ll establish that some tenants are simply very amicable and willing to do whatever it takes to make their landlord happy. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, and such tenants can end up being an excellent fit for your property. That said, when you’re in the process of interviewing someone and they reveal that they will “take anything,” it should raise your suspicions a bit. Someone who’s desperate to get a roof over their head, even if the roof isn’t in especially good repair, must have a reason. That reason is rarely a good indicator.
For example, if you’re interviewing a large family with multiple children who are okay accepting a house with too few bedrooms to meet their needs, inquire about that. They may admit that they actually do need more space, but they’re in a bind and need whatever they can get. Alternately, maybe you’re speaking with an individual who’s willing to accept an apartment that’s dirty or in disrepair if they must. When you hear statements like these, you need to take a closer look at their previous residences, eviction history, and background check. More likely than not, something will jump out at you, like a pervious eviction or missed rental payments.
Why It Pays To Be Picky
While it might be slightly more frustrating in the interim, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for rental applicants that are a bit pickier. If they have questions about the property or ask you if you’ll make changes or repairs prior to their move in, it indicates that they’re not desperate. They can afford to be picky, which means they’re less likely to have something in their history that’s forcing them to find new housing right away. As always, listen to your gut, but it’s worth noting that reading between the lines can tell you a lot about what sort of tenant you’ll have.
To reiterate, being amicable doesn’t necessarily indicate desperation or a problem in tenant history. That’s why it’s always vital to make sure you’re doing a full screening on every applicant. If anyone raises your suspicions, you can verify your gut feeling through a background check, credit check, or eviction history report.
For help in selecting the right tenants for your properties, we recommend our RentalConnect. RentalConnect offers property owners and landlords a great alternative to the expense of full tenant screening. This service requires no on-site visit, sign-up, or membership fees, making it extra convenient. The service fee is paid by the applicant. Available 24/7, RentalConnect is fast, easy, secure, and delivers reports needed to make an informed decision, including a credit report, a national criminal search, and a national eviction search.
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