 |
Top Ten Warning Signs of a Potential Bad Tenant
Author: Carolyn Gibson, CPM  | Posted: 22-02-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 14 | Rating: (67)  (?) 
Let’s assume you are already doing the basic screening duties. Everyone fills out a rental application. You check the credit report, the employment and bank account information, landlord references, and the applicant has shown the ability to pay the rent. So far, the rental candidate shows good potential for your vacant apartment.
Signs are there that you are talking to a would-be problem applicant. Sometimes we ignore them because everything else about the applicant appears to be okay. Other times, we are in such a hurry to get the unit back on a paying basis, we go ahead and rent to the person anyway. When your applicant begins to make a series of statements or excuses why he or she cannot comply with your requests for information, you may have a potential bad renter. You need to probe deeper and ask follow up questions.
Here are the top ten warning signs from rental applicants that should cause you to examine further.
1. “Why do I have to fill out an application?”
Uh-oh, we have a difficult applicant. And, guess what? This question will most likely come from one of your closet friends or relative. Do not start your vacancy process by playing favorites or catering to those who do not want to follow the rules.
Beware the applicant that is surprised he or she has to comply with your renting requirements. The answer to the question is, “Because, my property is my business, and I require everyone to complete a rental application”. It is the best way to treat everyone as equal, and complies with state and federal fair housing legislation. You will also appreciate being able to have something in writing to review and compare information from one candidate to another.
Here is the definitive reason why everyone should fill out a rental application: It is your policy, your property, and your rules. If a person does not have a problem giving a credit card company or a car company his or her personal business to get credit, the rental applicant should not have a problem filling out a rental application to get an apartment. Applicants have no problem at all filling out an employment application. Your apartment is at the same level of business.
2. “My mother (father, aunt, sister, etc.) said that I wouldn’t have to go through the regular process”
The presumption is that you will give preferential treatment. It may also signify the applicant has problems that he or she does not want you to see. Let your friends and relatives know that you are serious about your apartment and building. If you begin a tenancy by not following your own policies and procedures, they will remind you of that fact later when there is a problem.
Make everyone go through the process from beginning to end. Your favorite cousin may owe everyone in town. Your life long friend may have a criminal record he or she is not proud to reveal. Tell them you are making everyone do the same thing, to keep things honest and equal.
3. “I need an apartment for next month”
Whoa, rental applicant, slow down. Beware the applicant in a hurry. You want to get the apartment rented as quickly as possible. Still, do not allow yourself to be rushed through your own verification process by a rental applicant.
There are applicants who are very good at imposing their emergency situation on an owner or manager. Especially if an applicant has children, he or she will encourage an owner or manager to rent before all of the paperwork and verifications are completed. If you do not wait, you may subsequently find that the emergency situation was actually an impending eviction. But too late - the tenant is now in your apartment.
4. “I’m living with my girlfriend, and I pay her the rent”
This could indicate he was not on the lease. Ask plenty of questions. Does the owner or manager of the apartment know he is living there? Why does he need an apartment? Has he ever had his own apartment? Has a restraining order been filed on him? What happened between him and his girlfriend? How did he pay his share of the rent? Can he prove he ever paid rent? Check this person out very carefully before you give him keys to your apartment.
5. “I don’t have all my information with me. Can I take the application home?”
Always use a rental application to lease your units, and keep them with you. Keep track of them, how many you have, how many you gave out, etc. If the applicant is serious about the apartment, he or she should be prepared to complete an application after the unit is shown. The candidate can always return. Sometimes the person may be illiterate, or have a reading problem. Help each applicant who indicates he or she needs it. High-risk applicants depend on being able to talk their way into getting an apartment.
6. “I intend to pay three months of rent in advance if I am selected”
There are people who will try to take advantage of your eagerness to rent your apartment so that you can start to get money to help pay the mortgage. Do not allow a rental applicant to wave money in your face to get you to change or rush through your process. What happens after the three months? Does the application and bank account statement confirm that he or she has this much money, and more for the future rent?
Remind the applicant that he or she will have to complete your tenant selection process before you make a final decision. Also, inform the person that you have more than one application under consideration.
7. “I want to put a deposit on the apartment in case I am selected”
This is offered by an applicant in order to impress, and gain a competitive advantage for the apartment. Again, do not give into money waved in your face. If the candidate is selected, all you want is the rent paid on time every month, and obedience to the rules of the lease.
If you accept application processing fees, pre-selection checks or money orders and put them in an envelope, now you have other peoples’ money in your home. Some applicants cannot afford to pay an application fee. Some states do not allow owners to take an application fee or deposit. Check the law in your state before you accept any rental processing fee money.
Most of the time, your search for a tenant will go smoothly. Occasionally, an applicant may cause you to feel uncomfortable. He or she will show you a few signs during the decision process that could mean future trouble. There are also definite signs that perhaps you should take a pass on a person. These signs do not have to be part of your intuition. Rather, they are very specific and, often intimidating signs that you should take a pass on the applicant.
8. The rental applicant questions every decision or part of your application process
· Every discussion becomes a debate between what you are doing regarding your process, and what she thinks you should be doing
· The applicant tries to rush you through the process, constantly calling you for an answer, despite saying repeatedly you will get back to her when you have completed your course of action
· The applicant appears to have a short temper, especially when you ask specific questions
9. The applicant makes you feel nervous whenever he or she is around you
You feel severely intimidated by the applicant because he tends to yell or raise his voice when hearing something he doesn’t like. He stands over you or very close to you when making a point or, points his finger in your face when talking, etc. He doesn’t want to give you information you have a legal right to have to make informed decisions.
You do not have to rent to a person who makes you feel uncomfortable or out of place in your own home. You should make detailed notes of the dates and times you had these types of encounters, and include it in their file folder.
10. You smell alcohol on the applicant’s breath each time you meet
Or, the applicant appears to be under the influence of something more than alcohol – eyes are dilated, the person acts fidgety, can’t seem to stay still, slurs his words, etc.
Think about the kind of professional relationship you want with your future tenant. One or more of these signs and its intensity should cause you to think twice about the candidate. You want a tenancy period over a number of years that will be free from stress, questioning of your authority or rules, and constant bickering. If the applicant and you aren’t getting along before you even complete the process, it will not get better after he or she moves in. Avoid those candidates, and move on to those applicants that have a proven record of social, financial, and long-term stability.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/top-ten-warning-signs-of-a-potential-bad-tenant-339161.html
About the Author:Carolyn Gibson is a Boston, Massachusetts based real estate management consultant. She is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®), a Chicago based, internationally recognized trade organization. She holds the CERTIFIED PROPERTY MANAGER® certification with IREM®.
As the owner of a property management company for eight years, Carolyn’s firm managed conventional, city, state, and federal government subsidized and nonprofit housing, low income tax credit housing, public housing, condominiums and rooming houses.
Carolyn’s web site is www.synergyprofessionals.com. She is a contributing author on www.ezinearticles.com, www.helium.com, and www.searchwarp.com. Her popular book on tenant screening, titled “How to Pick the Best Tenant”, and her upcoming book, "Secrets to a Successful Eviction" are available at her web site and www.Amazon.com.
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Renting an Apartment With the Homeowner in the Building
By: Carolyn Gibson, CPM | 26/02/2008 | Real Estate
Renting an apartment from an owner who lives in the same building can be a rewarding experience. Living in an owner-occupied building depends on whether or not the landlord and tenant are compatible with the rules, habits and expectations of the homeowner.
The Business of Collecting the Rent
By: Carolyn Gibson | 10/12/2007 | Real Estate
Do you own rental property? Are you a real estate investor? Do you need your rent to help pay the mortgage? Have you had problems getting your tenants to pay the rent? This article will cover some important policies that you need to conduct the financial business of collecting residential rent.
How To Deal With An Eviction Notice
By: Professor P | 02/02/2007 | Real Estate
You've been served an eviction notice, what should you do? The state that you are currently residing in is a major factor. However, there is generally a set of procedures that applies to tenants.
The most important step that a landlord must take during an eviction process is when they serve...
The Effective Use of Late Notices: When, How, and Which One?
By: Kevin Kiene | 10/10/2007 | Real Estate
The late notice is the landlord’s best line of defense in the battle against delayed rent payments. When used properly, this humble little document can significantly increase the chance that your tenant will pay on time, every time. Here are a few tips to help you use late notices in a way that will maximize your rent collection rate.
Late Notices: Tips on How to Use Them and When to Send Them
By: Kevin Kiene | 16/10/2007 | Non-Fiction
A late notice not only may be the best defense in the collection process but it also serves as proof in the eventuality of a court hearing by providing a paper trail. Knowing when and how and which Late Notice to use, may be the difference of actually preventing the court process.
Help! I Have to Evict My Nephew!
By: Carolyn Gibson | 29/11/2007 | Real Estate
The eviction of a friend or relative is not easy to do. It has to be one of the most difficult lawsuits, if not the most emotionally draining, of all types of evictions. You may be one of the lucky ones who can rent to a friend or relative with no side effects. Still one day, there may come a time when you have to look your friend or family member in the eyes, and ask him or her to leave your apartment.
Get the Best Neighbors Money Can Buy for the Apartment Rental in Moscow
By: andrei sado | 29/05/2007 | Business
Many aspects of Russian buildings, in particular Moscow apartments for rent still not regulated. In particular, this concerns the classification of houses. “Despite the fact that we have the specialized organizations, any document, which determines the signs of the apartment in Moscow of different level, we do not have, counts the leader of the department of the new constructions of bureau of real estate “agent 002” Dmitriy Ivanov.
Nice Landlord Or Mean Landlord?
By: Kevin Kiene | 24/10/2007 | Real Estate
The impulse to be overly nice to tenants is one of the most common mistakes made by those who are relatively new to the property management business. It's a completely understandable impulse; nobody wants to be seen as the bad guy, and as the old adage says, you catch more...
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the landlord go into the mailbox whenever they ...
By: valerie washinton | 14-07-2008
can the landlord go into the mailbox whenever they want, and the response from the landlord is this is my house and i kept a key and i can do whatever i want
Can the landlord go into the mailbox whenever they ...
By: valerie washinton | 14-07-2008
can the landlord go into the mailbox whenever they want, and the response from the landlord is this is my house and i kept a key
Can the landlord go into the mailbox whenever they ...
By: valerie washinton | 14-07-2008
can the landlord go into the mailbox whenever they want, and the response from the landlord is this is my house and i kept a key
Margaritaville Dilemma
By: Mare | 14-07-2008
Anyone know where I can rent a Margarita Machine in Dallas Pennsylvania or the surrounding area?
Margaritaville Dilemma
By: Mare | 14-07-2008
Anyone know where I can rent a Margarita Machine in Dallas PA. or the surrounding area?
Car information , car sales , marketing
By: Michael | 14-07-2008
HOW MANY CARS SOLD PER DEALERSHIP ? Hello , I am trying to get information about the auto industry . What i would like to know is .... " How do I find out how many cars are sold , by dealership it possible ". Can I find that information by Market Area ......... ie. Hartford , Atlanta , Orlando , Nashville , etc. ........ new cars and used cars , Trucks and SUV's ? Thanks for your help .....
My name is Michael
e-mai BUSSINESS4MICHAEL@AOL.COM
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Real Estate Articles
Find Exotic Range of Villas and Apartments in Goa
By: JumpHigher | 26/07/2008
The beach attraction of Goa has extensive since been a favorite holiday destination among tourists. For most of the years, Goa is bathed in sunshine and it is fringed with acres of smooth sands and tropical warm waters. Goa is a muddled conflict of the Indian and European cultures. Although well-known for its serene beaches and calm vibe, Goa is a mixture of luxuriant countryside, tranquil townships and active markets. It is a perfect place for party lovers, as it you will find beach parties an
Holiday Homes – Stimulating Retreats for Tired Souls
By: JumpHigher | 26/07/2008
Goa is also known as ‘pearl of the orient’. It is situated in the south western coast of the India. It is blessed with naturally beauty with an excellent coordination of vast expansive beaches, fertile plains and forested hills. Goa is the hottest spot for holidays. This place is the major tourist attraction as the climate is favorable throughout the year. It attracts millions of tourists because of its beaches, resorts and its scenic beauty.
TIC: How is the Real Estate Community Involved?
By: Kathryn Landry | 26/07/2008
With the demand of prime properties worldwide, real estate communities are boasting of profits and capital gains when it comes to their acquired real estate. But despite the knowledge of these investors in the business, there is a way to consolidate as many properties as they can to maximize their profits.
Six Reasons Why Fixer-uppers are the Key to Financial Freedom
By: Sal Vannutini | 26/07/2008
Second only behind real estate development, fixer-uppers and renovating properties are one of the absolute best ways to turn a profit and increase your overall worth. Finding homes and apartment complexes or condominiums that are in need of repair, but still structurally sound, of course, is an excellent way to begin making money faster than you ever thought possible.
Debunking the Four Most Common Myths About Fixer-uppers
By: Sal Vannutini | 26/07/2008
Perhaps you have a bit of skepticism when it comes to fixer-uppers and making money, as after all, if it's that lucrative of a process, why don't more people do it? While a precise answer to that has yet to be discovered, there are several fallacies, myths, or excuses in some cases, about the entire subject, and we'll debunk four of them right here and now.
Know the Facts About Apr Rate - Annual Percentage Rate Loan
By: Bryan Burbank | 25/07/2008
When applying or searching for a loan one of the most important components o the loan is the APR rate which is the Annual Percentage Rate. This is the rate of interest that you will be paying back on the money that you borrow. It is important that when looking for a loan that you do a comparison of this APR rate because the difference in even a fraction of a point can mean big savings to you over the life of the loan.
The Pros and Cons of Living in New Jersey
By: Art Gib | 25/07/2008
Are the costs of living in New Jersey worth the comforts? Decide for yourself by reading the following article.
Buying Properties - 3 Things That You Need To Do Before Buying Properties
By: Cheow Yu Yuan | 25/07/2008
Are you intending to buy a property in the near future? If you intend to, then there are things that you need to prepare before you buy a property. Today, if you flip through your local newspaper or browse through the different websites online, you can see that there are always new properties for sale listings being put up by sellers.
More from Carolyn Gibson, CPM
Six Quick Tips to Maintaining a Home Business
By: Carolyn Gibson, CPM | 03/03/2008 | Home Business
When you establish a home business, you have committed yourself to a life of making your own decisions, work products, schedule and category of clients. You also have a responsibility to establish policies and procedures that will ensure your business will be a success. Here are six quick tips to sustain a successful company.
Workaholism: When It’s Time to Go Home
By: Carolyn Gibson, CPM | 29/02/2008 | Career Management
When work overrides everything else, including your family life, it is time to evaluate how you spend your time. Being a workaholic is a life choice. Learn when it is time to change your workaholic ways.
Renting an Apartment With the Homeowner in the Building
By: Carolyn Gibson, CPM | 26/02/2008 | Real Estate
Renting an apartment from an owner who lives in the same building can be a rewarding experience. Living in an owner-occupied building depends on whether or not the landlord and tenant are compatible with the rules, habits and expectations of the homeowner.
Snow Removal Tips
By: Carolyn Gibson, CPM | 31/12/2007 | Home Improvement
If you own real estate, whether residential or commercial, you are responsible for snow removal at your property. It is a service you provide to your tenants in exchange for the rent. Snow removal is also a necessary preventive measure to reduce risk and liability from slips and falls. Here are some tips to reduce risk, prevent injuries, and consider your neighbors who may walk on your property.
Top Five Mistakes First Time Homeowners Make
By: Carolyn Gibson, CPM | 31/10/2007 | Real Estate
Buying your first home is stimulating, and full of hope. It is also the most expensive purchase you will make besides your first car. A considerable amount of thought should be put into your first home purchase before you hire a real estate broker. With some thoughtful investigation, here are some mistakes you can avoid before buying your first home.
|
|
Finance 
