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.

[Michael Seeker]

@Silvia Barber - I don't see any red flags here at all.  You've got somebody who is from the area originally (as evidenced by their knowledge of the school systems).  They have legitimate reasons for leaving the area and returning and are wanting to meet in person to view the property.

It looks like they left off the phone number, but if that is a concern of yours, you can always email back and request it by suggesting you would like to call them to schedule a time to view the property.

Red flags for me for somebody moving from out of town would be some combination of the following:
-Not familiar with the area at all
-Does not have stable work lined up in the area
-Does not know anybody in the area and/or has never visited
-Wants to wire money to you or not willing to pay app fee and complete a credit/background check
-Has a rich Egyptian uncle who has fallen on hard times :)