Does dealing with these applicants ever get any easier?

[Bienes Raices]

I've only been advertising a week, and I've gotten some normal people, but some weird ones too.

Someone called today. They were living in Fort Lauderdale, not here. I told her I had an app fee. "You don't check credit, do you?" "Well, I don't check for medical bill collections or cell phone bill." "Oh, we don't have those problems, our credit is just bad period."

So I asked her if they had jobs lined up in Orlando. No, they don't. She doesn't work, and husband is self-employed car mechanic. She says they won't be able to provide income verification since he's self-employed. I told her that I wanted to see 3 times the rent gross monthly income. She complains that landlords in Lauderdale don't ask for that. Then I finally tell her that I don't think it's going to work out, and she hangs up on me. Oh, I didn't mention that they needed to move almost immediately. I was never clear on what their motivation was for moving from Lauderdale to Orlando either.

I don't know if I handled that one correctly. I'm trying to be fair and polite with everyone, but I don't understand why some of these people seem so demanding and pushy. I guess I just need to get used to it. Luckily, I haven't had any no shows yet--I had many when I was trying to rent a room in my apartment years ago.

[Michael Rossi]

Yes, it definitely gets easier. The person that called you is a DEADBEAT! He/she/it doesn't pay it's bills and it is too lazy to work. I'd be willing to bet that they have just been evicted. I would not rent to them - case closed and EASY!

I play a little game with phone calls from tenants. I try to make each call less than one minute. For example, someone calls about 123 Main Street:

I say "it's a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, all electric, and has just been painted. very nice. It's $500 per month and the security deposit is $525 IF you don't have any pets. We THOROUGHLY screen all applicants and don't take anyone that has been evicted in the past 5 years; we don't take anyone that has a felony; we don't take anyone that has more than 2 misdemeanors or any drugs on their record in the past 3 years; and you must be able to show 3 time the rent in income." That takes almost exactly 20 seconds. Then, I shut up. Those that don't meet the criteria will often just say "thanks" or "I'll call you back" and hang up (many wasted showings avoided). Those that are interested will ask how they can schedule an appointment to see the property. If they saw my ad in the paper or via word of mouth, I tell them " drive by the house and if you like it, give me a call back." End of call. If they've already driven by the house, I ask when they want to see it and have them call me 20 minutes before the scheduled time. If they don't call, I don't go - PERIOD! If they just show up - too bad - I don't go. If they can't follow VERY SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS like call me 20 minutes before we're scheduled to meet, I don't want the morons for tenants. Using this 20 minute call has cut down my no-shows to almost ZERO!

Mike