You sneaky little devil you... Great tip!

Jeff- What a great idea, I will pass it on to my property managers. The information should help them find those that skip out on them.

Great Suggestion!    Jeff  I like that kind of thinking.

Jeff,

Very comical.. Have you ever actually tired this method? 

HA! This is so brilliant, I am in tears laughing! I will pass this blog on to my landlord friends, they'll LOVE it!

I have a client who is going to LOVE this info! Thanks Jeff

Like this idea, who will not respond to something so enticing as money left behind. I will use it for sure. Thanks

Scott,

Yes, and it works... as long as those emergency contacts on your application are actually valid!  Then it all comes back to the pre-screening process, and verifying the phone numbers in the first place.  Sometimes, the tenant is on to you, and will not call back, depending on the relationship.

Martin,

Thanks- I've just been getting tired of having thousands of dollars a year go out the window, and I am always looking for new techniques to add to the cash flow for the year. 

I love this post. I do not do rentals but will pass thison

This is just too funny Jeff! I had not heard of this technique, but I'm sure it would work. :)

Lola,

It just seems fair to try to collect from these as much as possible... since there are 'professional' renters out there that can soak up your funds quickly and live in your nice place for free.  I think I'm going to start writing a book titled '1001 excuses to tell your landlord why you can't pay the rent'!, then 'landlording for dummies'...

Jeff Lund

I hope it works here in Grand Rapids!!!

Why would a tenant come back for money if they owe money? 

I don't know who just left this last post... but here's the answer:

It might be that you (whoever this is) doesn't know about tenant mentality.  I doesn't matter what the past relationship has been; those tenants only understand that this money is their money, and they will even demand to get it.

Jeff Lund

Nice, I love this idea.  I'm going to give it a try next time a tenant skips out.

This is a great tip! I'll pass it along to my clients...

you always have to be thinking and keep one step ahead of all possibilities before and after renting to someone.

Jeff, this is a great idea.

Some might say brilliant.

I  think most of the bad tenants will not give out their address, they will want to come to you.  But, if you can get their address can you get much blood out of a turnip?  Turn them into collection and move on.

This reminds me of the sting that police use to get criminals to come to them. Send them a note that they are winners of a set of tickets to the local professional team.  They get them to show up and they are arrested. 

People like getting something for nothing and it's good to see the tides turned on them using their own greed at times.

I do feel bad for those that cannot pay the rent and need to leave but they have sign agreements and have obligations.

Jeff this is really creative and want to let you know it is a great idea.