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 ask the tenant if they have any questions of their own for you. It’s a great opportunity for communication and setting expectations early so that you’re both on the same page. It’s the start of a relationship that may continue for years.
Most rental applicants will ask standard questions to get a better feel for you as a landlord or so that they have the information they need. However, occasionally a tenant will ask a question that may raise a red flag. It’s good to know going in which questions you should pay attention to in case they reveal more than the applicant means to let on.
Know What to Watch Out For
One of the biggest red flags during the Q&A session of the interview are questions about your screening process. It’s entirely possible that these questions are innocent, so take this advice with a grain of salt and go with your gut, but often people who press on how you run screenings and which screenings you do are revealing something they’d rather keep hidden.
Some of these questions can include:
- Do you screen out of state?
- How high a FICO score do you require?
- Do you look at eviction records?
- Do you look at federal records?
These and similar questions can indicate that there’s something that will be revealed in the screening that may affect your decision. Once again, it’s possible that these inquiries are just the applicant’s way of getting an idea of how you do things, but it’s worth looking into. No matter what, you should wait for the screening process to complete and see what it reveals before making your decision. If the applicant inquires about a screening that you don’t do, you may want to place an order for that screening, just in case. Ultimately, tenant screening services are about protecting yourself and your property. It never hurts to do your due diligence.
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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