All Forum Posts by: Dan C.

Sorry to hear that Christine.  I do think you need to persist in calling on listings.  Find out if any of them would take you more seriously if you showed them bank statements and paycheck statements.  Also when I was starting out I went to open houses in the area I was interested in because then I was able to have conversations and meet agents.

That does sound frustrating.  My advice would to be what I did until I met a good agent: I just called listing agents on properties I was interested in.  They were always willing to show it since its their listing.  And I met a lot of agents this way so I learned which ones I felt were a good match for me

@Michael Braatz I've not (the Rules and Regulations form has some mention of both detectors).  However the fact that WI Legal Blank is making these available is good enough reason for me.  Can't hurt just having them sign a few more forms.  I'm glad he pointed these out.

@Kelly G. Yes that sounds like a low rate of converting to an appointment.  However if this is the week immediately before Christmas you are talking about, I would totally discount it.  Its not that much harder to rent a place in Milwaukee in the winter.  But right before Christmas I think folks are very busy and distracted and it would not surprise me at all if a lot of people called to get info on a listing but did not make an appointment.

You might want to at least consider Craigslist.  It's all I use in addition to a sign in front.  When I post a vacancy on Craiglist I am overwhelmed with responses.  Often its so much I have trouble even responding to every single interested party.

@Michael Braatz I always use Wisconsin Legal Blank.  Rental Agreement (the lease), Non-Standard Rental Provisions, Rules and Regulations and Lead Paint Disclosure is what I have the tenants sign before they get the keys.  Then a Check In sheet right after they get the keys.  WI Legal Blank has a Pet Agreement form available if you want to use that too. 

@Marcus Auerbach I was happy to see the other day some of my tenants on the north side of Milwaukee with Christmas decorations as well as adjacent neighbors.

I've always had this hunch that it is a good sign of the health of the block - it shows folks taking proud in their home. I would guess that even in a rough neighborhood Christmas decorations are rarely stolen as they are not that valuable (maybe vandalized if someone has a grudge against you).

@Ulises Becerra Welcome to BP.  There are a lot of local investors out here, its been a great resource for me.

@Mike Lowery I'm not totally clear on what you mean by referrals, but if you mean confirming employment and checking with current landlord, then yeah I don't think you are missing anything.  Basically I have them submit some paystubs, I confirm employment and residential history and I use SmartMove for criminal background and credit check.  Obviously if its someone whose just lived in WI its pretty easy to do the criminal check yourself.  I assume you are concerned about revealing the house is vacant, I would recommend using FakeTV (and a lamp with a timer).

@Mike Lowery

As @William Newman alluded to, your supposed to refer to it as a "Credit Check fee" to be compliant with Wisconsin law.  Also my understanding is the max amount for this according to state law is $20.

Milwaukee is definitely a Craiglist area when it comes to advertising rentals, big time.  If you create a well written CL ad, you can get deluged with responses.  For example I just rented a place out and I would estimate I got about 60 responses in 2.5 weeks I spent advertising it. I also put out a yard sign, and I would guess I got 10 or less responses.  So in my opinion CL is way more significant, but generating more responses through a sign does not hurt.

For screening of applicants - in white collar neighborhoods I use SmartMove.  In blue collar neighborhoods my opinion is that SmartMove would be impractical to use for the application screening - so I just do the work myself.  

Good luck.

Welcome @Ramona Beyer.  You will get even more benefits from BP once you start posting.  Good luck.