--68.63.xxx.xxx

Roy - do you charge an application fee? I didn't start charging one until about a year or so ago. Since that time the quality of the applications I receive has increased and the quantity has decreased dramatically. I make sure they know the criteria before they turn in their app. I charge $25 per adult. --166.137.xxx.xx

I hope you get some good ideas from others here and good luck:) --65.114.xxx.xxx

Take it off market for 2 weeks and raise the rent 300bux, now you have a better grade of clients, make sure the house is better grade and you can perform the marriage with a 1.5 - 2 times rent value deposit, this way you have money for ice cream and cake. --76.188.xxx.xxx

Try handing the applicants you Policy Statement describing the qualitications to get into the unit, along with the application. I find that when I do this, I seldom get any applications returned from those who wouldn't qualify for my units. --97.120.xx.xx

Take pets and advertise that. My other trick is to advertise the unit as being available a month later or six weeks later. It pulls in people who are planning to move but not being forced to move. I may lose two weeks rent or a little more but I have to paint and clean anyway so it's a cost of doing business. I highly recommend this strategy. Eliminates the desperate. --73.33.xxx.xxx

Razorback- No, I do not charge application fees because I do not want any financial connection (or obligation) between them and me in the early stages of taking applications. --68.63.xxx.xxx

What does the place look like? How updated and fresh? Does it photograph well? --173.22.xx.xx

Sometimes i have to talk or screen 5-10 applications before the right one comes along, Ho to lunch and wait patiently. Pray also works. Try and rewrite your copy from simple down and plain to romantic copy. --66.87.xx.xxx

Do you offer a referral gift to current tenants? This may depend on how much you want to disclose to your tenants. --66.87.xx.xx

On the flip side, with the influx of new residents, it has driven the housing and rental markets sky high --65.114.xxx.xxx

Like WMH I'm wondering if you have a few pictures you could put up for us. I would be tempted to do a little freshening up (no frills would be required) and bumping it up $200 - 300 like Vee said. It is a very tight rental market here just up 59 from you and I am surprised how much I am able to get for little 2/1s. --12.251.xxx.xxx

also, what about a move in special, sign lease, pay deposit and move in before May 15 and your May's rent is $99, $500 going forward, 13 month lease... or some variation --184.206.xx.xxx

We found once we stopped saying, "It's good enough!" and started updating when people moved on, we instantly upgraded the quality of our applicants and new tenants. --173.22.xx.xx

Roy has great pictures. My suggestions are to keep going with CL, Zillow ads but develop tighter phone/ email screening so as to not spend any time on those that you have described. Next, talk to influential people - that have influence over the people that you want......coffee house staff near the University, Cafe staff next to the good employer, Pastors, insurance claims staff, divorce attorneys, hospital HR people. --72.172.xxx.xx

Be sure to bring up that thorough credit checks are done on all adult applicants. This eliminates a lot of problem tenants as they know they will never qualify. Also bring up the requirements are not flexible. --65.95.xx.xxx

How about adding a W&D? You can pick them up cheap and replace them cheap, or not replace them. Def added perk. Saves people the hassle of going to laundromat and the cost it. --75.132.xxx.xx

--68.63.xxx.xxx

Try a leasing company. It's been one of the best moves I've ever made. Do it once, worst case, you'll spend a few dollars and never have to show the unit. --108.218.xxx.xxx

Raise the rent and play up the pet friendly, you said the neighborhood is good I think you might be short changing yourself. --71.1.xx.xxx

Roy you've had problems for months. Suggested you add the stove months ago. Apparently you didn't want to do that. GOOD luck-- tenants, as told before, don't carry stoves from place to place. Stove 350.00 vacancy 4 months 2K. --74.184.xxx.xx

Do you get the picture here? --68.63.xxx.xxx

One month empty will cost you more than all these minor improvements put together. --141.129.x.xx

I'm not talking a higher INCOME tenant - I'm talking a lower-income GOOD TENANT. They exist. --173.22.xx.xx

Under your theory you shouldn't supply toilets either-- they only dirty them or miss when using. How about door lock-- they'll only lose the key. Come on Al get with it and stop crying. Kids decorate-- so charge them for fixing it with appliance paint. --74.184.xxx.xx

The lower the rent, the higher the hassle. --66.30.xx.xx

--74.184.xxx.xx

When we first started we would say, "Good Enough!" When we look at those older spaces now, we say, "What were we thinking? No wonder we had bad tenants." --173.22.xx.xx

--68.63.xxx.xxx

Roy, remember how you started this post, you don't want the rent a center customers any more. If you keep doing what you've been doing, you'll keep getting what you have been getting. --72.172.xxx.xx

MYOB,I bought a 4 unit from a guy who did not supply the tenants with keys,he told them if they want a door that locks go to Home Depot and get there own then no one will acuse him of going inside when they weren't home.He also told me there are rats in the basement and he didn't care because he didn't live there so he wasn't buying rat poison,apparantly the tenants didn't care either.I bought it 3 years ago,he held the note,he used my payment to send his daughter to college,she graduates this month and I only have 3 payments left,we are both happy. --24.92.xx.xx

We've been running across more and more applicants saying the last places they looked at weren't even cleaned up-- shown filthy. My opinion on that is the owners are in the end game and are tired of LL'ing. There loss our gain. --74.184.xxx.xx

As someone just said, you are getting Rent A Center tenants because that's what the place is appealing to...possibly *because* you are not providing appliances! What choice do they have? They can't can't rent old stuff. And they don't have $500 cash to buy an entire used kitchen suite: used stove, fridge, microwave, etc. --173.22.xx.xx

Okay, Okay,..you all win. I will stock the house with appliances. It is easier for me to write a check and than to argue with you all. --68.63.xxx.xxx

--73.146.xxx.xxx