Applicant is relocating from out of state

[Silvia Barber]

I have only been a landlord for 7 years and am always learning something new. My biggest concern is looking for the red flags/scammers in dealing with potential applicants. A current situation I have now is someone who is relocating from Penn. to Georgia with a new job acceptance. Here is the email that I received (I erased their names).

How would you proceed in responding back to them? What are the possible red flags and/or concerns with this situation? Does having money in savings really make a difference if you are just starting a new job? I realize that relocating is a very legit reason to move but how do you protect yourself from scammers? Would you do anything different in their credit/background/finances check? If they provide a bank statement that show they have accessible funds does this change things, or is it still a risk?

" 

Dr. Ms. Barber,

My name is C_____, and I am moving my family back to Barrow county in June. I taught at AHS for 8 years as did my wife, B___. She recently accepted a teaching position to return to AHS because our daughter, K___, will be attending elementary school next year. In other words, we want to live in a community and place K___ in a school system that we know well. We left originally because I was offered a scholarship to attend a doctoral program in educational leadership at Penn. Now we are eager to return.

Reasons for considering us as tenets: K12 education is a reliable sector for employment; our credit is solid; we are never late on any payments; and we have enough savings to cover the lease for more than a year.

All this to say that we are highly interested in the rental property you have listed at: _______ Auburn, GA 3001.

Could you possibly show the home this weekend?

Sincerely,

Chad

p.s. I am happy to speak by phone at the number below. Feel free to call me if you like"

*Note: No phone number was listed.