Tenant Applicant "tire-kickers"

[Wesley W.]

Hey all,

So, I am marketing a few vacant apartments currently and I pride myself in the efficiency of that system.

Every once in awhile I have these people contact me that I identify as "time-wasters": every time I post an ad, they inquire. Sometimes months later. I usually ignore them, as I know that many are probably "secret shoppers" looking for FHA discrimination or something similar.

But this one guys I recognized as someone I actually showed an apartment to about nine months ago.  He filled out the application with incomplete answers, and his work situation was a little sketchy (has severe neck injury - could barely walk at the showing - yet was getting paid "cash" through his father's construction company). 

Anyways, this same guys has answered several of my ads since then and I have just ignored him.  Now he has followed up with an email to the effect of "I sent you the pre-screening information you wanted - can I get a showing?"

I'm trying to decide on how to proceed.  I have zero interest in showing him an apartment since I would never take him as a tenant.

I can't tell him I've taken someone else, because that's not the case, and there are a few units that he has asked about of mine.

Would you just ignore him?  I also worry if I answer him, it will open up a dialogue about "why" and I really don't want to get into a protracted debate about it.  How would you proceed?  I'm curious.

[Julie Hartman]

Gosh, sounds like his email went into your spam folder and you never saw it. Happens all the time in these situations.