On Friday I showed a house to a prospective tenant. I told them more than once to fill out the app and text me I would meet them and collect the app and background check fee.

Two days later I get a text that they want to rent the house and have forgotten what to do next.

At the risk of being an a** I am tempted not to respond. Maybe it's truly a memory problem but I really think that this isn't an honest response.

My wife says to repeat myself and run the check. She is probably right, she usually is.

This a small 2 bedroom class B. I have had over 100 calls, many duplicates as the message is long describing the house and application process. Only around 5 have felt qualified to look at the house, 3 have applied and had the background check run. Only 1 has made it past that and failed on the current home inspection.

Wife also says I'm being too critical as I am trying to apply what I have learned here about the "new age tenant". Wife says we have been doing it our way 40 years and have been okay. This a small dying Midwest manufacturing town and the applicants getting to be disappointing.

I would be interested in comments on this situation.

As Brad20k says, "You've gotta know..." YOUR area. Some of the things people do here would *never* work for me (lock box showings being a big one!)

Another is credit score. I don't care at all what their credit score is - only that they have the ability to pay going forward.

I do care about eviction, absolutely. If it's on their report, or they self-report (many do!) that's a no-go. Even if they seem legit now, the process of actually evicting is more than I care to do deal with these days. And now they know the ropes, so would be even MORE of a PITA to get rid of. Had one self-confess that she wished she had understood the process better, she could have stayed in the house longer!!

"A dying Midwest manufacturing town" is going to be an issue for finding qualified tenants, I would think. So you are going to have to lessen some standards.

Of course your wife is right.

EXACTLY what JLK said.

Patience. Not to get too deep into it, but a lot has to do with info overload. Also, no one writes down anything much anymore so they CAN remember it- it's typed up or so readily available online that they think they don't have to notate. It's filed into two slots in the brain, not important or VERY IMPORTANT. Rental app procedure for the 5th LL- not important.

It's always different now too. One LL wants theirs faxed,another apply online, another drop in a box, another in person, another over the phone,and then there's text and email. So many options.

"tempted not to respond" Yes listen to wife.

100 calls and only 3 have applied. Not great.

I also agree with JLK.

The plus is that they have not been able to find anything better than your place. So at least a chance they will remember that and really appreciate your place.

been doing it our way for 40 years.

I waited for 12 hours, the prospect magically remembered and wanted to meet and give me the app and fee. I offered to pick it up at their residence (a local monthly hotel). 2 sisters with less than a year to live and a service dog pit bull mix.

Unfortunately the only income is Social Security of less than $800. I am not inclined to waste their fee for them.

This sucks for them, they need to get into an hud program somewhere.