Today in real LLing:

Ya’ll know we do a 2 Minute In Home Visit prior to final approval.

App checked out so we made an appointment. Divorce situation. Confirmed by text 5 minutes before the appointment. She was driving home and will be there.

My helper drove up and the curtains and garage door were open. He finished a call to me saying he was there, looked up and the curtains were now closed.

He knocked on the door, 2 dogs go crazy. (Her app said no animals)

No one answers.

He called me, we consider maybe the kids were home alone and Mom was running late. My guy called and texted the res, no answer or reply.

Then the curtains opened with a man, child, and cat looking out. Good, someone is home. Maybe she parked in the back alley. So my guy walks back up and knocks again. Man looks out but will not come to the door.

So 20 minutes after appointed time and multiple knocks I told him to move on.

Maybe she told the husband about the appointment, he argued so she stayed away.

Profitable use of our time? ABSOLUTELY!! Now we know there is drama we just dodged.

We’ll comtact her in the morning and clarify what’s going on...IF she answers!

BRAD

We began pre home visits about 2 years ago.

Other LLs in area are always shocked we do this .

In the last week we have declined 3 applications with this step.

Although this step surely saves us $ beyound what we know it was very uncomfortable to do at first but has become iroutine. But I have to say it is still very emotional for me to decline some. It is so very sad to me that some people do not even realize the state they are living in or the difference between our polished and shined available home and what they allow themselves to live in. And we don’t judge by the structure but their ability or choice to be or organized and reasonably clean.

What happened to doing the best with what you have ?

Fantastic .

Imagine if things like this were the norm. Imagine how this would improve the country on a whole.

Brad 20,000.......naaaa, that name just doesn't work

And this Folks is another fine example of:

Screen x3. (effort)

Looking Good on paper, is one thing.

I started doing this a decade ago--originally to gage the temperament of the pet. But I soon realized that it was the people that were even more imp. When I was in THEIR space, I could smell the place, see the cond, and view the family dynamics. Many times I saw parents yelling and swatting the kids over almost nothing, or kicking the dog to shut it up, and every surface covered with garbage. At most of the visits the PET was NOT the problem.

20 years ago we would do a “drive by” the applicants current address if it was a SFH. (No manager to talk to). Going inside is now a necessary step. In CA almost all evictions won’t show up on the tenants record. The cost of doing our business (and thus rents) has really gone up because the government is working against us and blaming us for the lack of affordable housing.

Oh folks waiting for the follow up, I think it has already occured...

--> Profitable use of our time? ABSOLUTELY!! Now we know there is drama we just dodged. <--

2-23 update:

We followed up with the applicant this morning and it seems she was AT OUR RENTAL, not her home, waiting, thinking we had forgotten her. Logical misunderstanding. We'll try to be clearer in the future.

She had a chance to take a second look (lockbox) and is still interested.

Another appointment scheduled for after her work today.

I pay $25 for the visit to be done within 24 hours. A retired person is doing it. She's happy for the money ("I'm making $50 an hour!") and I'm happy for the quick service while maintaining my FREEDOM!!!

Like Robin said, the peace of mind is priceless, knowing I am handing over my investment to a person who can care for it.

They can look great on paper but odor does not appear on an app.

We only do the In Home when they are approved on paper and confirmed they want our home. Very few are denied at this point.

2-23 pm

In Home went well. Clean, neat, animals are staying with the ex.

She wants our rental because it is close to the ex and same school for kiddos.

The missed apointmemt uesterday was just a simple misunderstanding.

Signing a lease tomorrow.

YAY!

I think it's a great idea that can work in some cases.

The reason I personally don't do it is because I think it really could walk the fine line of a fair housing discrimination case.

What if you get there and they have __________ and you decide not to rent to them because they live like pigs, but they decide to say that "HE SAID WE WERE APPROVED AND THEN HE SAW WE WERE _______ or HAD _______ in our house and then told us NO!!

So what would happen if the first person who was great on paper says, that they were pet sitting?