|
|
Questions to Ask Tenant Prospects.
by Don Conrad
I am a firm believer on conducting thorough phone interviews on perspective tenants before showing them an empty rental. It makes sense to know the answers to the important questions and topics before I waste my time, energy, or gas to show a rental property. If this makes sense to you also, I have compiled a list of questions that might be worth asking. These questions are listed by category for convenience.
Of course, there are many more questions you can ask in each area and naturally different ways in which to ask them. I compiled this list to give you something to work with. Use what you need, feeling free to add or delete when necessary.
I have created a number of printable landlord forms to help you keep organized during prospective tenant interviews. They are available on my forms page free of charge. Be sure and grab the caller interview form as I'm sure it will help you greatly.
Occupancy:
- Who will be living with you?
- How many people will be living there total?
- Any part-time occupants?
Pets:
-
What are the names of your pets?
- Are they inside or outside pets?
- Are they housebroken?
- Are they spayed/neutered?
- Are they licensed?
- Are they caged indoors?
- Are shots updated?
- Are they de-clawed?
- Has the pet ever bitten or attacked anyone?
- Do you have insurance on the pet?
For more tips about credit issues and landlords check out our
Credit Quiz
Credit:
- How’s your credit?
- Please rate your credit.
- Have you ever filed bankruptcy?
- Was your bankruptcy a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?
- Was your bankruptcy medical?
- How long has it been since you filed for bankruptcy?
- How much are you paying on a judgment or garnishment?
- How much longer are you paying that judgment or garnishment?
- Are your wages currently being garnished? If so, for what reason?
Eviction:
- Have you ever been evicted?
- For what reason?
- Have you even been asked to move out? Why?
- Have you ever refused or held back rent? Why?
To help keep you organized when asking about a potential tenant's income and expenses, use our FREE Cashflow Form . Make sure to check out our forms page as well! Income:
- What do you take home per week? What about your spouse?
- Do you receive any regular bonuses?
- Do you have any other source of regular income?
- What is your occupation?
- How long have you been on the job?
- Will you have all the monies when you move in?
- Do you have verification of all income?
- Is all income documented?
Expenses:
- How much rent do you currently pay?
- How much is your car payment(s)?
- How much are your total credit card payments?
- Are you supplementing anyone else’s income, alimony, etc? If so, how much?
- Do you pay any other loan payments? How much?
- Do you have health insurance?
- Do you pay your own health insurance? How much per month?
- Do you have any expensive hobbies?
- Is this rent payment affordable for you?
Move in:
- How soon do you want to move?
- Why are you moving?
- Where are you at now?
- How long have you been at your current residence?
- How long were you at your previous residence?
- How big is your current residence?
- How long are you hoping to stay?
- How long of a lease will you sign?
- Do you have any extremely large furniture?
- Do you own a waterbed?
- Tell me what bothers you about your current residence.
Miscellaneous:
- Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
- Was it related to drug usage?
- Are you a garage mechanic?
- Are their any smokers in the household?
- Do you have renter’s insurance?
- Are you in a garage band?
- Are/do you? (Include here anything else you’ve developed as a tenant guideline.)
The previous list isn’t necessarily complete. In actuality, if you doubled the number of questions, you would still have room for more. It’s quite possible the list would never end. However, this should get you started. Please remember, whatever questions you choose to ask, do so without violating the Fair Housing Laws.
Asking the right quality questions over the phone can save you unwanted trips to the rental. Learn to ask the right questions before you leave the house. courtesy of www.findthatqualitytenant.com
Read more landlording and real estate investment articles
_______________
If you would like further infomation on this topic, please purchase my book "How to Find That Quality Tenant". Ask your locale bookstore or see my website at:www.findthatqualitytenant.com
I am not a lawyer, therefore, if you have any legal concerns with anything in this article, please contact the appropriate legal counsel.
The above article may be reproduced without my permission under the following conditions: author name, website, and contact information must accompany article and be prominently displayed, and the article must be reproduced in it's entirety.
Thank You. Don Conrad
Copyright 2006 Blue Collar Publishers
www.findthatqualitytenant.com
e-mail: donconrad@findthatqualitytenant.com
|
|
Tip of the Month
August 2008 |
Discrimination is a serious issue. As you are looking for quality tenants, it is important to keep away from issues protected by the Fair Housing Laws. Under the Fair Housing Act it is illegal to refuse to rent to someone based on their race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disabilities. Absolutely stay away from these issues when searching for tenants. I can tell you for a fact, none of these issues are determining factors on your tenant being a "good tenant" or a "bad tenant".
More Tips Of The Month |
|
"How to Find That Quality Tenant" Only
