We rent SFH's ($1500 - $1900 range) and typically the majority of our tenants have lost their home in the past and can't qualify for a mortgage anytime soon. Usually they land in an apartment or a multi-family for ...

I first encountered BP when I was searching for answers on how to screen my first tenants and the ideas and tips I read in your forum posts are a large part of why those tenants are the best in my building, hands down.

Also see if he has a price in mind - I flat out ask "what's the least you would sell the house for".

BiggerPockets Tenant Screening Service

(The dog is a Dachshund...)FILTERAll the rest should be good to go =)Don't spend too much more time filtering other than that.The way I see it, it will take you less time to disqualify somebody that calls than it will disqualifying them before you send a letter.We saw between 13%-18% call backs and about 80% of those calls came within 48hrs of sending the letters.That being said, I would recommend you send about 100 at a time or split them up to 50 every other day.Get your feet wet with screening callers.Here is my layout in Podio...

Instead of a flat decrease in rent amounts for modeling purposes, I look at it in vacant unit months (ie: if duplex, if 1 of the 2 units is vacant) and with the rent decreasing by various percentages.

Screen as best you can and realize that stuff happens and you can't always get it right.The numbers are really important.

I bought a 3 flat in December of 2012.

This'll be a first for me, but what the hell - just for you :) On the other hand, @Brandon Turner won't want to me my best friend any more and @Joshua Dorkin will flat out kick me off BP - what am I going to do with myself then...?

Open windows, check screens.