The first step!!!!!!!!!

[Cristian Rivera]

Hey guys, 

I recently purchase my first house and I'm planning on renting out three rooms while I stay in the master. It is located in Denton Texas close to Mayhill Rd and I35. I am planning on charging $600 per month including utilities and internet. I'm wondering what do you guys think, recommend, would like to add, what word of advice would you like to give ... Also I was wondering how should I advertise these room so that I can fill them as quickly as possible. And what should the deposit be as I was thinking $600 plus $35 app fee. 

[Jason Cacioppo]

  I would specify in the ad that the rooms are for only ONE tenant each so you don't have couples trying to share the room. I like to get to know a person via text first before offering them a showing. If they don't have the patience to answer a few questions via text, you may not want to live with them. The standard questions I ask are: What would a background check reveal about you; what do you like to do in your free time; are you currently in a lease, if so, why are you leaving. I generally avoid people with no rental history or who still live with family. You could also do an month to month lease just in case the person isn't a good match. Many people can afford the rooms, but you should be very picky with who you live with. For example, a trucker can easily afford the $600.00 in rent, but do you really want to live with a 55 year old female trucker who drives nights and therefore must sleep during the day? I also created a list of house rules that I send to candidates who make it through the initial questions. If they have any strong objections, that's fine, you potentially just saved yourself a world of frustration. You really need to lay down rules about visitors, drugs and animals.