5 reasons I should rent to this person.

I wouldn't waste time with personal references. They are most likely to tell you only good stuff (made up or true) and none of the bad. Really, would you give out a reference that would say anything bad? Stick with professional references: land lords and employers.

I don't call the personal references. Those are for hunting down tenants that leave without leaving a forwarding address, or for emergencies... although my application also asks for an emergency contact.

If you are going to call their personal references, ask if it true that the applicant only smokes outside and if the pet is well behaved and safe around strangers.

What recourse do you have against someone who give a good reference and the tenant sucks?

Lynn, you have no recourse, which is why the LL should verify the credibility of the reference. For example, a CURRENT land lord might lie and say a bad resident is good (because they want to get rid of them) or that a good resident is bad (because they want to keep them). So you should discount anything they say that's good and only believe the bad stuff IF it fits with other negatives (i.e. they have poor credit? I'll believe the current LL saying the resident often fails to pay on time.).

At this point, I think most of us can sniff out a liar or two.

What I'm listening for when I ask for 5 reasons are the uuuums and uhhhhs that goes with creating lies on the spot.

I've also heard stories that were some of the funniest and dumbest altogether.

"Oh, when I needed a place to live, he was there for me."(you might be giving them a place to live soon, too)

"He bailed me out of jail."(way to pick people you'd use as a reference)

"A few months ago when he wasn't working, he still gave me rides."(when he said he had solid work history)

There's a great friend, but maybe not the best renter.

I've had moms who said not to rent to their kids because they were having trouble with drugs, violence, the law, etc. One mom in tears(grandma)even asked me if I knew a place that could help her with her grandkids.

So, I think checking out references does work.

Also, checking the prospective tenants information such as their address and phone with the reference person can help as well as the info of the reference.

How is it that you know each other? How long have you known each other.

If I have a suspicion that the reference might be a relative, I ask how the person is related to the applicant?

I do that very near the beginning so the reference doesn't realize why I care about this answer. I have had a reference that was supposed to be an employer or landlord give away the applicant is his nephew, etc.

Of courses on rare occasion a relative is a legitimate employer or landlord or is a genuine reference, but then the reference usually mentions that in the application process.

Kim,

Don't waste your time. You want to screen on hard facts like payment history, job longevity, and a 2 Minute In Home Visit.

BRAD