Good morning,

Here is my case, yes, all I need is one qualified tenant..

Here are a few scenarios:

(1) a young professional who just moved to town and was referred by his agent (the previous property fail thru.) So, he and his friend came and looked /inspected the house, and kept telling me this is the best house, the cleanest house they saw so far, they like it very much, but they had another appointment to see another house. So, they left. I did follow up, of course, no response. Then his friend told me that he picked a less condition of property to lease, the reason he did not pick my property, because of I have "spiritual" something to remind his previous unhappy experiences.

(2) another young couple came, the wife inspected each corner of the house, and very pleased to house conditions....but, they were tired, they need to go back to the city they came from (another two hours drive.), then, I did follow up, of course, no response from them.

Here are my questions:

When do you hand the application to the applicants, the moment they said they like the property? or I wait for them to tell me that they like to apply the property? Do they do it online application?

Do you have applications ready and ask them to fill right the way?

When do they make decision? Do most people make the decision of lease right the moment, (after they saw the property?)

So, the moment they left my property without giving me the confirmation, it does not matter how lovely my house is, or how much they like my property? They all given white lies. But, I did know from other persons, that they saw some lousy properties, dirty....etc.. but the rent is higher than mine, and they rented....

I wonder how my property could not find a decent renter? I don't want to "push" people, then I did not close the deal neither. Most of people wanted champion taste and beer budget.

So, could you share with me how did you sign up your tenants?

When did you hand the application to them, and when do you ask them to pay the application fee? and when do you ask them to submit the other financial information? (what are they?)

Thanks.

I keep a stack of applications on the kitchen counter where they are very obvious. I give applications to everyone who asks for one.

My experience is that tenants who really want my rental will stand there and fill out the application on the spot. Not 100% of the time, but very close to always.

Alice,

If you don’t GIVE EVERYONE an app you can be sued formdiscrimination. It’s just a 4 cent photocopy. “Thanks for coming here’s an app.”

We do not show until we have reviewed their full app. (Apps are online with all the pictures. Email them the app, they complete it, take a photo and email or text it back to you.)

And our SHOW means give them the lockbox code.

These two were just being polite. Not interested. Could be any reason - dated, paint color, carpet, smell, layout, neighborhood, maybe they are not really ready, having a fight...or not liking the landlord (not YOU of course it’s those OTHER landlords!)

Market like a crazy person and get more apps coming in.

I've found that people really don't like confrontation. So even if they KNOW they don't want it, they'll say they really like it but, oh, so sorry, they left their paystubs at home so they'll send the whole packet tomorrow. I even had a gal at our most recent showing who filled out an application, paid me the $25 fee, promised she'd send in documentation of income--and then never did. In fact, I had multiple people who preapplied and paid their money, saw the place, decided they didn't want it but never told me. I'm making bank on the application fees! :)

Sometimes people know right away if they want it. Sometimes yours is the first house they've seen and they want to shop around before committing. There's no way to know. Just keep handing out applications.

What you can do is if you think you liked somebody who you have not heard from, then call them up and see if they have any interest in your rental. Sometimes when people say not interested you can coax some useful feedback about your rental.

I prescreen and show those folks the apt. I ask them what else they have seen, to gauge where they are in their search process. Some people say they will get back to me and some ask about how to apply. I explain the application process, which is $25 per adult, all adults apply. Application will direct you as to all supporting documents required. If that much checks out then I do the background check which they pay $15 for directly to the Co. My application is online and I hand out a business card with the info on it. People ready to rent fill it out w/ in 24 hrs.

I find that I do not want the people who show up w/ cash in hand and their paystubs. They are often way to desperate to get into my apt. When I explain the process to them, they usually never follow up.

We do open house showings. We have a card table set up with folding chairs. People who want to apply pay their app fee, and are given a paper app to complete. We bring a small copier with us and we photo copy their paycheck stub and driver's license while they are completing the app. Many times people who know they will not qualify will make some excuse to save face, and you never hear from them again.