Order of running tenants applications

[Isaac B.]

I understand you accept first come first serve as long as they qualify. My question is: applicant A submitted the first application. While I'm processing applicant A's application, applicant B submitted an application. I am waiting for applicant A to provide me with additional supporting documentation I requested. Meanwhile I have everything I need from application B. Can I go ahead and accept applicant B?

[Nathan Gesner]

Originally posted by @Isaac B.:

I understand you accept first come first serve as long as they qualify. My question is: applicant A submitted the first application. While I'm processing applicant A's application, applicant B submitted an application. I am waiting for applicant A to provide me with additional supporting documentation I requested. Meanwhile I have everything I need from application B. Can I go ahead and accept applicant B?

You should develop a policy that is in writing, followed, and available to share with applicants that ask the question. I tell applicants they are on a first-come, first-serve basis and others can jump ahead of them if they procrastinate.

I do not start processing applications until they are complete. The application must be filled out completely, supporting documents provided, and fee paid. Once I have all the parts, then I consider it "received" and start processing it on a first-come, first-serve basis. There's no point in running a credit/criminal on someone when you don't even have their ID card to prove they are the person on the application.

By the way, at least 10% of all my applicants pay the fee (which is non-refundable) but then never submit the documentation. Since I don't run their application, I get to keep the $30 fee as profit. That happened about 50 times last year so I earned an extra $1,500 in fees!