All Forum Posts by: Stephen D.
Stephen D. has started 1 posts and replied 6 times.
Post: Screen applicants based on move in date?
- Investor
- Renton, WA
- Posts 8
- Votes 0
Originally posted by Zach Schwarzmiller:
Originally posted by Stephen Dinh:
Originally posted by William Shaffer:
I don't have a signed lease or deposit.
These too down compute for me? Did you send them a lease which they haven't signed with the lower amount in it? Did they actually agree (verbally) to rent your place? Seems like if they are coming back to you and changing times then maybe they haven't agreed. My approach would be, sign the agreement and give me the money in 24 hours or I am going to move on to another applicant. Absolutely no reason to wait until move in to sign the lease and get funds. Just make sure that the Lease has the correct start date on it.
If she ask why tell her she changed her mind once and you don't want to risk her doing it again. If she won't sign move on.
It was more a written statement(email) than a signed agreement to have rent at a lower amount with a Nov. 1st move in. We agreed on a meeting place afterwards to collect the application and application fee where she posed the question of a later move in date.
Thank you all! I will definitely see who puts their money where their mouth is first. Lesson learned here is stick to the script. I felt vulnerable at that time since I've barely had any hits on my place. Once I took her application, I got 2 solid prospects the next morning.
Being in Washington State, I would advise you to keep the conversations verbally, versus email and/or text message. We live in a tenant friendly state and that could come back to haunt you. I've seen it happen more than once where someone wishes they had not written the message, once it's written it's essentially there forever. I love text messages and emails because I can write them while I am sitting in a meeting, but I've learned to just wait it out and make the phone call instead!
Advice heeded! I like to work with email because it gives me a searchable history if I need to refer back to something and I have a ridiculously poor memory.
Post: Screen applicants based on move in date?
- Investor
- Renton, WA
- Posts 8
- Votes 0
Originally posted by William Shaffer:
I don't have a signed lease or deposit.
These too down compute for me? Did you send them a lease which they haven't signed with the lower amount in it? Did they actually agree (verbally) to rent your place? Seems like if they are coming back to you and changing times then maybe they haven't agreed. My approach would be, sign the agreement and give me the money in 24 hours or I am going to move on to another applicant. Absolutely no reason to wait until move in to sign the lease and get funds. Just make sure that the Lease has the correct start date on it.
If she ask why tell her she changed her mind once and you don't want to risk her doing it again. If she won't sign move on.
It was more a written statement(email) than a signed agreement to have rent at a lower amount with a Nov. 1st move in. We agreed on a meeting place afterwards to collect the application and application fee where she posed the question of a later move in date.
Thank you all! I will definitely see who puts their money where their mouth is first. Lesson learned here is stick to the script. I felt vulnerable at that time since I've barely had any hits on my place. Once I took her application, I got 2 solid prospects the next morning.
Post: Screen applicants based on move in date?
- Investor
- Renton, WA
- Posts 8
- Votes 0
I don't have a signed lease or deposit.
Lower price was a written agreement. Nov 1st move in was verbal. Verbal agreements are binding in washington. Though I don't see how that is enforceable.
Post: Screen applicants based on move in date?
- Investor
- Renton, WA
- Posts 8
- Votes 0
Originally posted by Angie W.:
I take and screen applications until someone signs a lease and pays all deposits and first months rent. Until that happens I feel I am not obligated to anyone.
Did you agree to a Nov. 1st move in date as a condition of the lower rent for the first applicant? Are both applicants equally qualified?
IMO until you get a commitment from any applicant (signed lease, deposit,rent) you are free to continue to market the property and screen potential tenants. Otherwise you're wasting time waiting on someone who may just walk away.
My denial disclosure that a gave them a head of time doesn't cover that stipulation of when they would sign the lease. It more or less covers what they can be denied by the consumer report. How do I deny their elgibility?
Post: Screen applicants based on move in date?
- Investor
- Renton, WA
- Posts 8
- Votes 0
I guess I screwed myself since I agreed verbally to "mid November." I should've given them a canned answer. In washington we allow verbal agreements.
Post: Screen applicants based on move in date?
- Investor
- Renton, WA
- Posts 8
- Votes 0
I know it's a liability to accept more then one applicant at a time but the first applicant we agreed at a lower rent and a Nov 1 move in. Now she says she wants a mid to late November move in. No lease has been signed or deposit taken. I have another prospect who will pay full rent plus be moved in by Nov 1. Do I open myself up to any lawsuit by taking in the additional applicant?
Can I put her on the no. 2 spot and take other applicants without repercussions?