Renting without meeting the tennant

[Tom R.]

My property is in a navy town so we have people traveling here on short notice for work. I just had a phone call with a person who wished to apply without seeing the property.  I told them that if they met my minimum criteria I wouldn't have any problem renting to them. What is your policy on renting to people without meeting them first?

[Gail K.]

We also have rental properties near a military base (Fort Gordon).  After being burned once we no longer agree to rent without someone viewing the property first.  If the applicant is moving long distance and cannot view it themselves, they must have someone view it for them; can be a relative, a friend, another military person who can then report back to them the condition of the property.

Why do we do this this?   Because we had a young couple moving across country to the fort.  They were happy to have a house waiting for them; until they got here.  Despite seeing 20 pictures online and 5 phone calls, the minute the wife walked in the house was suddenly "too old looking"; no granite counter tops, didn't like the paint color and after being there for all of five minutes, didn't like the neighborhood.

I heard all these comments and was livid.  The husband came downstairs (this was a tri level) where I was standing and tried to make excuses.  All I wanted to tell the both of them (since I had stupidly turned away other couples interested in the place) was to get the hell out of my house NOW.   Since no lease had been signed I could not hold them there legally.  It was not a pleasant situation.

That was when Bill and I decided to change our policy regarding this matter.

Gail