As a new landlord, you’re likely learning all the ropes you’ll need to begin a successful rental business. If there’s any straightforward advice we can give to people who are just starting out, it’s exactly that: make sure you’re running your business as a business. When you’re in a people-centric job like renting out property… Read more »
Rental Applicant Red Flag: Oversharing and Setting the Stage
Have you ever had a rental applicant who overshared with you right off the bat? Maybe they wanted to tell you a story about how unreasonable their last landlord was or about that time they got caught up in something that definitely wasn’t their fault. You might hear about a “crazy” ex-partner or a misunderstanding… Read more »
Managing Rental Property By Owner: The Advantages
If you own rental units, whether it’s one single family home or a portfolio of apartment complexes, one question you’ll inevitably face: to manage or to outsource. Is it worth the time and effort to manage your rental property? Or is hiring a property management company a better choice? There are distinct advantages to managing… Read more »
Beware Tenants Who Will “Take Anything”
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… Read more »
What to Watch for During a Tenant Interview
In our previous post, we talked about paying attention to the questions your tenants ask and whether they raise any red flags for you. In this post, we’re discussing a similar topic, but this time you’re the one asking the questions. Landlords often interview potential tenants as part of their screening process, which is good… Read more »
Tenant Questions That Raise Red Flags
Conducting applicant interviews is standard practice for many landlords and property managers. During the interview, you have the opportunity to get a feel for a prospective tenant and learn more about them. This helps you make a more informed decision about who will be the best fit for your property. During this process, you’ll probably… Read more »
What Tenant Residence History Can Tell Landlords
When you start accepting new applications for one of your properties, you’ll undoubtedly be asking your potential tenants for their current address and rental history, if they have one. Landlords and property managers will want to pay attention to the current address especially during their initial screening process. It can tell you a lot about… Read more »
How to Spot a Potential Problem Tenant
Imagine the following scenario: you’ve just placed an advertisement for your property and are actively looking for tenants. A prospective tenant pulls up to the property to apply and you notice that they’re driving a moving van or that their vehicle is packed full of stuff, almost as if they’re traveling with their home on… Read more »
How Do You Get an Apartment with Bad Credit?
Renting an apartment with bad credit is difficult but not impossible. To get an apartment with poor credit, you need to first prove that you can afford the rental and make payments on time. Job stability is a major factor in whether a landlord will consider your application further, so be sure to show that… Read more »
Do All Landlords Do Credit Checks?
Most landlords will do credit checks on perspective tenants, though some may choose not to. Anyone who’s trying to protect their income will likely want to make sure the person they’re renting their property to has a good history of making payments on time. If you’re concerned about a less-than-perfect score, you don’t necessarily have… Read more »