Ho long they have known them, whether you think they would be good renters, would you consider them responsible, ask them about their work,  verify they don't have pets, try to string together 10 questions, some of which are just more conversational.

I’m not really sure you can vary the deposit amount, aside from collecting extra deposit for pets. 

For example, one huge pet-peeve of mine is when a seller states some super-inflated NET ROI that doesn't include accurate rental expenses.As far as showing the property, it comes down to the current owner's tolerance for putting a lockbox on the the place.

We have a tenant who has a puppy, even though her lease says no pets. 

Keep the house closed up for a few days, no furnace or fans running, and then bring someone into the house who is not a pet owner and watch their reaction. 

Does this mean, for example, I can turn down anyone with a pet regardless of it being an "emotional support animal" if we do not outwardly advertise? 

She is also paying a $50 a month "pet rent" each month, so again, while the repair costs are static at this point, the longer she stays there the more I will have set aside for those repairs.Thanks everyone!

(haven't yet)Pets and smoking are your personal preference, and depend on your location and target market.

Cancer with our daughter-in-law and 2 pets slammed us financially.  

I've leased many times so know what to say to tenants - the pet discussion was thorough and often - we even delayed signing the lease as i was told by Mr tenant that his wife may want to buy a yorki-poo - (I was ok with it at the beginning but my policy is a higher deposit and I meet the dog) he finally tells me during our leasing process he does not want a dog and is deadly afraid of them and they will NOT have a dog in the house.The PM i'm partnering with in my business goes over today to do a property inspection - they hid the pitbull but the Yorkie-poo was found in the downstairs bathroom with a kennel and pee pads (meaning it's not potty trained) - I despise these little dogs as they will piss all over the carpet and since they're so little the tenants wont care or find the mess and clean it up.