Screen Prospective Tenants Thoroughly : Finding The Right Tenant
If you?re ready to rent out your house or apartment, it is time to scout for the right tenant. Whether you?re a newbie or an old-hand to renting out properties, it is always a bit hard to determine if the person you find for your property is the right kind of tenant.
You have the right to screen and investigate your prospective tenants. However, to prevent misunderstandings and to avoid ugly surprises later on, here are some basic steps you can follow when doing your investigation:
First Time Call ? Prepare a list of questions you want to ask when prospective tenants call in to find out about your property and also keep in mind all that you have to let them know regarding your rental. Prepare a comprehensive list of questions ? eg. reason for moving, number of people, pets etc. Base your questions on the concerns that are relevant to you. Find out, if you can, what exactly they are looking for before you pass on details. This will give you an idea of whether or not they will be suitable for the space you have. Let them know about the rent and security deposit requirements and any other important conditions you may have – like regarding pets, smoking policy, etc.
When Showing Around ? When you have tenants coming over to see your place, you bring out the guns to make sure that they like what they see. But don?t forget that it is a two way process. You too have to like what you see. Try and get to know as much about them while showing around, you may get a feel of the kind of people they are. Your prospective tenant is trying to make the right first impression. So it is up to you to see what is real and what is not.
Simple things a person does can say volumes about him/her. Apart from speaking politely and showing respect, see if the person behaves well too. For instance, did he/she wipe their shoes on the doormat before entering? Were they smoking when they first met you? Are the questions they ask about your property relevant or just things they?re picking on for later negotiations? Keep mental note of everything, as all these factors will play a role when deciding on the right tenant.
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