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10 Ways to Spot Deadbeats Before You Rent to Them

By American Apartment Owners Association

Commercial Real Estate Agent with American Apartment Owners Association

March 10, 2010 02:17 AM

With vacancies high, you may not get the chance to sift through a pile of qualified applicants to pick the cherry tenant.

That makes it even more important to spot the ones who are more likely to cause damage or leave you with unpaid rent to collect.

While there is no sure-fire formula for predicting who will become a deadbeat tenant, hindsight from other landlords and property managers who've been burned can offer some great lessons.

If you see some of these traits in your applicants, you may want to dig deeper before you hand over those keys:

Tries to entice you by offering to pay cash

Starts to negotiate before you show them the unit

Wants to pay the deposit in installments

Comments(11)

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Clark Hitchcock

Re/Max Nyda Realty Inc - Chilliwack, BC

Realtor - Fraser Valley

Certainly does sound like some huge flags be aware of, to avoid some stress in the future.

Mar 10, 2010 02:23 AM

Jesse Vasquez

Equity Realty- TVG - Smithfield, UT

"APPROVED”

Wow these are great flags, thanks for the info. I will pass this on too to all my landlord friends!

Mar 10, 2010 02:28 AM

Jay Schmitt

Keller Williams Keystone Realty - Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg Real Estate Agent

I have dealt with them all in the past. Pay attention and try not to let the desperation of vacancy take over. Good Post.

Mar 10, 2010 02:29 AM

Lori Bowers

La Quinta, CA

The Lori Bowers Group

Great info! Sometimes it is better to let a unit sit vacant a little while longer, then it is to rent to the wrong person in desperation....Inn the end you might be paying double...

Mar 10, 2010 02:52 AM

Leslie Prest

Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ

Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

Doesn't want to fill out the application.

Tells you they will be your best tenant, and leave the place better than they found it.

Is pushy about getting in very quickly.

Mar 10, 2010 04:00 AM

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM

Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA

LandlordWhisperer

What Jay said...owners want the unit rented; however, renting to someone who will stop paying rent and the length of time to get them out is mush more co$tly

Mar 10, 2010 07:08 AM

Michelle Francis

Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA

Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

It is absolutely critical to get good tenants. I would rather have it vacant than to have to evict! Don't want to deal with bankruptcies at all.

Great advice. They usually throw up big warning flags, it's important to listen:-)

Michelle

Mar 10, 2010 11:27 AM

Diane Rice

Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL

SFR, SRES, CNC

What we tell potential owner clients is: We have HAD the tenants from hell..... never again! Spotting them has now become as easy as breathing.

Mar 11, 2010 05:39 AM

Nathan M

Rentec Direct Property Management Software - Grants Pass, OR

President (Rentec Direct)

Just have a look inside their car and it'll tell you a lot. A disaster inside their car means a disaster inside their house. Diligent screening before accepting their application is critical too. If they did it to someone in the past, they will do it to you too.

Mar 11, 2010 07:59 AM

I agree with the looking inside their car....I try to say good-by during the property preview at their car so I can check for cigarettes, etc.

Here I thought I was the only one who did this!!!

Mar 12, 2010 05:43 PM

Michael J. Perry

Fathom Realty - Lancaster, PA

Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Add to list "willing to rent it site unseen "! As far as the cash goes that's all the $$$ they have in this world! The last you'll ever see!!! Probably got it from their last landlord as a bribe to move (*L*) !!!!!

Mar 25, 2010 01:08 AM

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