All Forum Posts by: Diane Mendoza

Complete an intent to lease form to document the collection of security deposit funds. Then create the lease and include copy of the unit condition move in inspection (completed by you and signed). Have the tenant sign the docs and offer them 72 hours to make any additions to your move in inspection report.  We like to provide copies of keys that are due not duplicate. We note the key quantity in the move in inspection report and charge the tenant to rekey if all original due not duplicates are not returned at move out.

First step would be to collect a security deposit from them. Then you can send the lease. First month's rent is usually due on move-in day. I would also recommend doing a pre move- in inspection with the tenant, as well as taking pictures of the property, that they will sign off on- so you are both on the same page of the initial property condition- so if there is damage when they move out, they can't say "that was there when I moved in" because you will have proof. You can do this when you meet them to give them the keys on move-in day. It's good to give your tenants 2 copies of the keys, and then keeping a copy for yourself. 

Let me know if you have any other questions! 

 Interesting, I never knew Zillow Rental Manager wasn't considered reliable. I've used their credit and background checks for years without issues except for one fraudulent tenant/application.

I have noticed on most of the applications I don't see anything pop up for the background check but the credit check seems pretty thorough. I also use Forewarn to screen applicants which does catch things that don't show up on the background check. Sometimes they are noteworthy and sometimes not.

I don't think it's reasonable to charge people two application fees so it's probably just best to get your leads through Zillow and then have them apply on a different website to screen them.

 This is what I use as well. I think it's more robust than either of the other two. And I do the exact same thing - free initial application, only charge when they're the selected candidates for the property. I don't want to charge people who aren't going to have a shot at the home. 

 Yes, it's completely unreasonable to ask your applicants to pay more because you made a mistake. I'd reccomend that you sit down and come up with very specific and clear screening criteria and processes and share those on your listings so tenants know exactly what they are in for from the start. That way there is no grey area. 

When I used to self manage my properties I used MySmartMove and felt it was a very good screening process - it checks all the main things you need to check (criminal history, bankruptcy/foreclosure history, credit, etc). And it's easy to send the link to the prospective tenant so they can complete the app and pay for it directly. Once done the report gets sent directly to you and they give a recommendation on whether or not to accept the tenant. 

@Diane Mendoza, only reasonable if you wish to do so at your own cost.

It isn't reasonable to force the applicant to pay twice because you decided to change your application screening process.