Brand new to owning rentals - Need help!

[Account Closed]

Hi,

I have my first rental unit up on Zillow and have already been getting bombarded with interest. What is the best way to affordably screen applicants? Any advice on things that are helpful to include in the application (do you all use applications or leases you found online or write your own?)?

I am new to rental units and I plan to start out with only this unit for a while until I learn what I'm doing. Any advice would be helpful, thank you!

[Cassi Justiz]

I use a combination of a few different applications. Your state will probably have a standard form that you can use for free. 

I know of people that do pre-screening questionnaires before they schedule showings for high interest properties. Usually a pre-screening is going to ask about stuff that can instantly disqualify the applicants like income, recent evictions, felony charges, etc. 

If you wanted to do this at no cost to you, you could set up a google form and have them submit the form with their showing request. 

I don't typically pre-screen applicants. I do open house style showings and invite everyone to come over at the same time. This way you get more traffic and it creates a little healthy competition. Anyone that really wants the property will be inclined to act fast if there are 5 other groups looking at the property at the same time.