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Rental Prospects DISAPPEAR...Was it SOMETHING I ASKED?

By
Property Manager with Gibson Management Group, Ltd.

I'm in FULL RENTING MODE...not too many properties vacant NOW; however, I will have a few in July and August so I am PREscreening as much as possible so as not to waste these prospects time FALLING IN L♥VE with my HOMES.

I respond to most e-mail, texts and voice inquires with 3 questions....

HOW MANY IN YOUR FAMILY?

DO YOU HAVE PETS?

HOW MANY CARS DO YOU HAVE?

The FIRST question is important because of occupancy, extended families, # of ADULTS and the # of AUTHORIZED residents that need to be considered.

The SECOND question is important because many people are thinking that landlord will be MORE THAN HAPPY to have their EXTENDED PET FAMILY move into their property with them; and

The THIRD question is because more HOAs, PUDs and subdivisions are LIMITING on-street parking and too many cars for parents and teen age drivers cause traffic and ingress and egress issues for emergency vehicles.

When the SECOND question is responded to with a number more than 2 - a dog and a cat - then further questions need to be asked.

 

I just received an e-mail inquiry from a woman who provided me with her current address without the house #.  When I asked her which house #, she responded and I KNEW that she had at least 2 dogs and that they were HOME ALONE during the day.  

I leased and managed the unit next to hers for 2 years and everytime someone came to THAT unit door, her dogs WELCOMED THEM WITH BARKS.

While I too have multiple pets at my house, I live in the country and their BARKING only alerts ME to an AMAZON delivery.

Multiple BARKING pets in a congested, multi-unit situation is difficult to regulate; however, if landlords and property managers do not do it, then the HOA/PUD or locality may have to do it to EVERYONE's detriment - including the pets.

 

Posted by

Wallace S. Gibson is a Certified Property Manager with over 50 years of property management experience and expertise.  She maintains a specialized property management business in Central Virginia serving Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna and Louisa counties  

LandlordWhisperer

View our available Charlottesville, Albemarle and Lake Monticello rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

 

Comments(9)

Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Yes the pet question is critical and if they are inquiring about a condo in my neighborhood the next question is how much does your dog weigh?  Many of the buildings have restrictions of 30-35 lbs or less.

Jun 11, 2013 10:38 PM
Mark Delgado
houses for rent, Solano County & Glen Cove - Benicia, CA
Benicia and Vallejo, Property Management, rental h
Yes, the prescreening questions are important and asked for specific reasons. We also ask people to talk about their rental history and credit. Saves everyone time to prescreen.
Jun 11, 2013 11:13 PM
Ricky D. Sadler
Real Estate Marketing Experts &Trusted Senior Advisors on Property Management services, Rentals Leasing, Landlord Ten... - Seattle, WA
Trusted Senior Property Advisor & Marketing Expert

I really try- To Restrict pet size to 15lbs are less . Summer time the most stressful time of the year!

happy renting-

RD House

www.RD-House.com

Jun 12, 2013 01:20 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Qualifying tenants is just smart business Wallace.

Jun 12, 2013 03:38 AM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

Sometimes I find they prescreen themselves. Saves me a lot of time.

Jun 12, 2013 11:07 PM
David Popoff
DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT
Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct

Wallace, great introduction questions, why waste time get right to the point.

Jun 12, 2013 11:50 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Asking the right questions and NOT getting answers is almost as "telling" as getting the RIGHT answers

Jun 13, 2013 02:51 AM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

Funny--I ask the exact same 3 questions to ensure we can move on with the process.

Jun 13, 2013 11:07 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Wallace, 

We love our little dog and are blessed that she is NOT a barker.  However, we get that reasonably behaved pets and OWNERS are critical to leasing a home out with pets.  It's not right for every home and we are good with that.  

No reason to keep going, as if the house won't take pets and they have them, it's not a fit.

All the best, Michelle

Jun 13, 2013 11:40 PM