Charge Multiple Applicants Application Fee (??)

[Jennifer Baldassari]

Hello!

We showing our first property to potential tenants.  Yay!  I have several different applicants (different families) that are interested in filling out the application and paying the fee of $55 (which covers background/criminal, credit, and eviction reports).  Should I have the applicants pay and process the background checks one at a time (one family at a time) or everyone interested as they come in? I hate to waste people's money if the first person in line checks out and rents the place (causing issue for other families paying the $55 per adult and waiting to find out if they are selected then discovering they are not getting the place).

I don't know if I'm asking that question correctly but I hope you catch my drift.

Thank you!

Jennifer