Prospective tenants aren't returning applications

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Hi. This is the first time I've formally tried to rent out my duplex (I bought it with tenants and a friend moved in after that). I live in one side.

I have shown my rental to about 20 people within a couple of weeks, practically one on top of the other.

A few people could obviously care less about it after seeing it, but a handful have made quite a verbal deal about 1)loving the rental, and 2)needing to move soon, and 3)will definitely return the application tonight!

And not a single one of them has returned the application since I began showing. Not even the ones who have come by more than once, measured for their furniture, or brought their extended family to see their supposed future home.

Am I doing something wrong here? I give the application out to everyone before they leave and I let them know they can drop it off in the mailbox at anytime or make arrangements to meet with me after 5pm or weekends. It shouldn't be an availability issue.

Is there something unusual about my rental application that frightens people? It is basically a form template that I bought from NOLO. I have had a few questions about "how does this application process work" which I have answered in full. One couple wanting to move in did tell me that they were uncomfortable with giving me bank account information (what if the account info was stolen?), but they were willing to provide multiple copies of their pay stubs and were fine with providing all the other information (including SSN for a credit check, etc). They were supposed to turn in the application last night and, of course, did not. :roll:

So I'm just confused. What is going on here?

[Christine S.]

Is your application a quick one page form? When we show rentals, we tell the tenant on the spot if they want to fill out the application with as much info as they can, they can call in the rest. We collect the application on the spot. We tell tenants this when they call in to view the place. They can always call in later more info or fax over pay info.

Other wise all your doing is showing the property and giving out paper. It has been a sucessfull way to get them to commit.

Honestly, the problem could really be that you are the owner living next door. This can make tenants very uncomfortable. My brother and I had a four unit building with a house in the back. My brother livied in the back house and would show the vacant units. We found out real fast, this was not the way to lease a unit. I started showing the property and we leased it. I didn't mention he lived in the back house.

May be you could have a friend or family member show the unit to get it leased and just be the voice on the phone. Perhaps a property manager could be the solution. Ask the next tenant you show what they think of you living next door to see if that is it. With that many showings and a good rental price , you should have leased it. Anything wrong with the unit? Location? Condition?