By Robert L. Cain, Copyright 2021 Cain Publications, Inc.
In Attorney Tom Moorhead’s excellent book, Owner’s Manual for Landlords and Property Managers, I came across this great point: “With all the valuable information that you will be receiving on your rental application, why would you ever not give someone a rental application?”
Many landlords dismiss applicants out of hand because the landlords have a “fifth sense” about the quality of applicants due to these landlords’ lengthy experience in the business. It’s a fifth sense because it doesn’t quite make the grade of a sixth sense and is wrong at least one out of six times. Attorney Moorhead points out that many landlords decide on the spot, for example, that someone is “too young,” that is, under 18, and thus unable to enter into a contract, so never offer an application. That is in spite of the fact that someone being underage would become immediately apparent in the screening process such as when the landlord looks at the picture ID of the applicant.
Here’s my point. We can’t tell by looking only by screening. Bad tenants are past masters at appearing to be outstanding, upstanding citizens because they rely on landlords assuming that appearance is everything. Masters of finding new places to live because they have to do it so often, they are “practiced at the art of deception.” But we can cut their evil plans off at the knees; the best way to get rid of a bad tenant is to hand him or her a rental application that contains the message “we carefully screen all applicants.”
Landlords may dismiss some truly outstanding applicants out of hand simply because they don’t meet some preconceived prejudice. Suppose, for example, that a construction worker is on his way home from work and sees a for-rent sign, drives by the property, notices the landlord is there, and knocks on the door? This man doesn’t do too well dealing with the public, but is great at construction work. He doesn’t even talk a good line and stammers when he says why he stopped. Mr. Knows-instantly-the quality-of-an-applicant landlord takes one look at the applicant in his dirty, work clothes and outside at his work truck that could use some washing and immediately acts as if this prospective tenant is imposing on him.
This prospective tenant has worked for the same company for five years, was just promoted to supervisor, earns in excess of $60,000 a year and drives a late-model, paid-for Toyota Camry on weekends. In addition, he has lived in his current home for seven years and never been late with the rent. His wife wants to move so the kids can go to a better school than the one they attend now that is deteriorating. But the landlord could tell just by looking that this prospective tenant was unqualified. He never offers an application.
Later that same day, another prospective tenant drives down the same street on his way back from some questionable activity and sees the same for-rent sign. This man, well-dressed and driving a new Lexus, has some credit issues. Because he hasn’t made a payment for three months his Lexus is about to be repossessed. He has to park several blocks away from his current home so the tow truck driver can’t find the car. He also has to sneak into his apartment because he hasn’t paid any rent lately—or at all. He has been too busy trying to impress people with his free drinks and meals while trying to suck them into his latest scheme.
He strides into the property full of self-confidence, wearing his $1,000 suit and Hugo Boss shoes, smiles, introduces himself, and compliments the landlord on a “beautiful property.” He adds that he “could really feel at home in a place like this that is maintained so well.” He wouldn’t live in just any rental home. After all, his home has to be one that fits his carefully crafted public facade.
With his “unerring” fifth sense, Mr. Knows-instantly-the quality-of-an-applicant landlord takes one look at the prospective tenant and knows that this would be a wonderful person to have living in his property. He thinks about offering an application but decides against it for fear of driving off a potential, platinum-quality tenant by doubting his quality. In fact, he asks this applicant, “when can you move in?”
As I pointed out above, the best way to get rid of a bad tenant and to entice a good tenant is to offer an application with the words “we screen applicants carefully” somewhere toward the top (and then do it, of course). The most successful landlords do screen every applicant carefully no matter how “good” or “bad” they first appear and offer each person who looks at his property an application.
#propertymanagment #rentals #landlord #rentalproperty #renting #landlords #getitrented https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072JHCPM8