Approving a Tenant Online without Meeting in Person

[Dante Pirouz]

Hi All: I have a prospective tenant who is moving to Port Huron from out of state to start a new job. They (married couple with kids)  submitted their application online which is our normal process, paid the application fee and all the reports (credit, criminal, eviction) look stellar, plus good income with a job at our big hospital in town. Should I approve their application even though I haven't met them yet face to face? Just to add, I currently have another couple who are good tenants that I approved a year ago although I had only met the wife and daughter since the husband was still on his military base in another state and that worked out with no problems (I figured I could always complain to his CO if there were problems but you never know). Just wondering if I'm missing anything... Thanks

[Account Closed]

The answer to that questions is .....ARE THEY COLLECTIBLE?  

• When we are landlords we want to have good tenants.
• We want to have long term tenants as well.
• We want to have a tenant who will live in our home as we would want them to.
• And we want a tenant who takes care of the yard and is nice and gets along with the neighbors.  

Aaah what a dream.  And sometimes it does come true.

I prefer to meet my applicants, because one can tell a lot about someone in just a blink of an eye.  As a matter of fact there is a book out called "Blink" and it is based on first impressions we have upon meeting someone, which more times than not, turn out to be a correct opinion.  

But being a landlord means we can't judge people by a "blink of an eye".  We need to be fair and balanced, and if the applicants qualify we must rent to them.  So my main QUESTION that I say to myself  when I rent to anyone is..... ARE THEY COLLECTIBLE?  Are they someone you can sue in case they don't pay the rent or they do damages and collect on?

You run a credit check, criminal check, and all the above as you stated, but it all boils down to  ARE THEY COLLECTIBLE. 

So I would say they sound good. If thye both have good jobs.  Don't have more expenses then income.  I'd go for it, as long as they are what?  COLLECTIBLE !  And if you have any doubts always get a Co-Signer who is also...COLLECTIBLE!  The more you have on the Lease, the better your chances are in COLLECTING.

Nancy Neville