During a showing, while talking to potential renters, don’t give out any important information about the home’s security system. Be careful when you open or close the door, that they don’t watch you type in the alarm code. Don’t show them the security system, or give them the security code, or tell them where you hide the extra key. Not yet. That information is for screened and approved tenants only! You never know if someone will come back later to steal your household items or cause damage to your house.
STEP 4: TAKE AND PROCESS APPLICATIONS
Now that you’ve shown your property to interested and potential renters, it’s time to take and process any applications. Please refer to Chapters 3 and 4 for more detailed information about how to screen tenants, how to take applications, and how to ensure you’re renting your property to the right tenants. The key to remember here is to weed out the “bad apples” and watch for red-flagged applicants. Remember, they have to fill out an application, they have to meet your minimum qualification standards, and they have to agree to the conditions of your lease. Something that some new-to-the-business landlords forget is checking applicants’ ID. This might seem strange, but people use fake IDs all the time, whether they’re underage, an illegal immigrant, hiding a criminal record, or just pretending to be someone they’re not. Make sure the ID checks out and that all the information they provide is accurate and verifiable. You’ll also want to confirm the addresses in their background check to ensure it matches the one they provide on your application form.
Proper tenant screening is essential to ensuring you’re renting out
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