Let’s say you ask a candidate if they’ve ever committed a crime. If they seem evasive, try to avoid the question, try to change the subject, etc., then they could be hiding something, and this is probably someone you don’t want living in your home. Be straightforward and cut to the chase. “Look, I do all background checks. I check everything out,” you could say. “If you think you’re going to have an issue with me checking your criminal background, you need to let me know. Maybe you shouldn’t even waste your time and money applying to rent my property.”
SOMEONE IN A HURRY
“Hey, when can I move in?” you might hear from a potential tenant. “Can I move in three days? Tomorrow? Tonight?” Or, you’ll hear a fake sob story about how they just got kicked out of their previous place “for no reason.” There’s always a reason. People who seem rushed raise a red flag. They’re in a major hurry to move in, and this can seem suspicious at best. Are they trying to avoid a pending eviction? Are they trying to run away from unpaid rent and property damage situations? Are they running from the law? You never know, and you need to be sure you never feel rushed during the screening process. As with everyone else, go through your checklist and background checks carefully before you rent to anyone—no matter how much they try to rush you.
SOMEONE WHO HESITATES TO GIVE YOU REFERENCES
If someone is hesitant to give you references, that’s a red flag indicating they don’t want you to talk to their references and learn about their tenancy history, whether it’s having been a bad tenant at their current place of residence, or somewhere else
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