Tenant Screening red flags

[Jairo Zapata]

Hello, 

When looking for the perfect tenant, what are red flags you must pay attention to during the application process? I recently had to evict a tenant and that was not fun to say the least.
Thanks in advance for sharing. 

[Karl B.]

Aside from the obvious (criminal record, evictions, poor credit) I tend to notice most red flags when looking at their social media:

-If it's a couple and they've been in a relationship for a short amount of time (I've had 'couples' inquire who got in a relationship that very week)

-Posts or photos showing they smoke marijuana. I'm not dealing with that in one of my multi-family properties

-They're on unemployment/not working

-Social media photos show they're messy or appear to own a dog (I don't allow dogs in my rentals)

-Their job is something tough to confirm, such as 'digital creator' (where did all these digital creator come from? I believe it's another word for 'unemployed')

-Sob stories of any kind, especially when they talk about being broke

-Not having the security deposit and first month's rent at the time of lease signing

-If they ask if they can sublease the apartment 

-For my larger apartments, if they state they're going to search for roommates to fill any other rooms and they don't even know these 'potential roommates'

-If they ask for a lower monthly rent price

-If they're  disrespectful during the viewing. I once showed an apartment to a woman and her grandkids and the kids started running around the place chasing one another screaming. Another time someone showed up and spit their gum out on the front lawn before walking up to me. Nope. 

-If their social media name doesn't list their full name, or if it's a fake name, especially if it ensues illegal or disparaging activity, such as 'Trapstar Jones' or if they claim to work at 'The Crusty Crab' (if that's the case they can go rent a seashell from Spongebob)