Require applications before viewing?

Question

For SFH rentals, do you typically require a completed application before you show the property?

In my area (Central Illinois), I have noticed that it's about a 50/50 split. Some properties are even requiring the SSN and application fees before showing the property. What are your thoughts on this?

Tim Herman · Answer

@Austin Noon Look at it from the tenant side. I don't want to fill out an application for a property I wouldn't be interested. List the requirements that are necessary to rent the property. Confirm with text or call that they meet the requirements and show the property. I do open house style. I schedule every 15 minutes. The 15 minute schedule allows for the flakes that don't show up. I usually show Friday  evenings and Saturdays.. I get their email address and send them to a link to apply for the rental if they are interested. Depending on the jurisdiction you have to take the first qualified candidate.

Alan Le · Answer

I require answering pre-screening questions at the least before showing a property. Employment history, combined income, pets, party size, etc. I think that is a very reasonable ask and is an easy step in your due diligence so you have some understanding of who they are before allowing to see your property. Also costs the potential tenants nothing.

I use zillow rental manager to market my properties for rent. Makes it very easy and cost effective for prospective tenants as well. They pay zillow a pretty small fee to have an active rental application for 30 days. During that time, they can send their application to all the properties listed on zillow and its sister sites for the property managers to review. Zillow will do the credit and background check and they can also upload their proof of income through there. Worth checking out. I will still do my own verification of information on top of Zillow's if I choose to move forward with a tenant lease signing.

Bob Stevens · Answer

No I do vet them however,

Good luck

Jordan Moorhead · Answer

I don't, but only do group showings

Ned J. · Answer

I do exactly what @Tim Herman does....I make my qualification crystal clear before.... then do an open house ( I just do a 2 hour block, show up when you want during that time) . If you are interested, then apply....if you aren't then don't. No wasted time for either party.

Danny Webber · Answer

no way, some pre-screening questions should filter enough

Nathan Williams · Answer

nope I actually encourage them to not apply until seeing the unit.  But I do try to presceen them to make sure its not a waste of both of our time

Peter Tomeczko · Answer

@Austin Noon

We ask for people to apply first before viewing. We have recent updated photos and sometimes video walkthroughs. We are currently using apartments.com for all marketing and tenant applications. Tenants can pay a one time fee for multiple apartment applications.

The reason we ask for the application completed first is we want to make sure they can afford it (job history), no evictions and credit history. Our properties are in the midwest in C - C+ towns. We get a-lot of tire kickers dreaming about moving or thinking they can have us come down on price. I really think it all depends on the area and properties/renters. We get around 10-30+ calls/emails a week and it takes around 100 potential renters before we find one that fits our requirements.

(600+ credit score, 3xs rent/job history and no evictions).

The next thing we started implementing is having people put down a deposit and sign the lease if they want us to hold the apartment for say a week or two. If they back out when the agreed on move in date is we either do not return the deposit or refund a portion due to lost rent and time the apartment was off the market. So far this has helped us keep people from backing out before they move in and us loosing time by taking the apartments off the market. Again… not all areas are like this. So take everything I am saying with a large grain of sea salt.

We currently have one sfh and a 5 unit building. In the process of buying a 10 unit mix building. So far I have enjoyed buying in small towns and offering nice newly renovated apartments.

Back to your question on applying before viewing. The local property manager in (A-B areas) does not ask for applications first. They ask for copies of drivers license, some quick general info and gives people a code to enter the property to view on their time. I wish this worked for us but unfortunately it does not nor are we comfortable with letting people into an apartment alone. I have a feeling the old “Is your refrigerator running?” Joke would literally apply us if we used this same process. Hope that helped… best of luck and let us know what you choose and how its going.

Peter

Austin Noon · Answer

Thanks for all of the feedback and responses! I think I'll go with the consensus of filling out the application after viewing the unit.

Austin Noon · Answer

@Bob Stevens

Thanks for the quick response! I appreciate the feedback.

Require applications before viewing?

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