5 Signs an Applicant Will Be a Good Tenant
When you’re receiving lots of applications for tenant positions at your rental properties, sometimes it can be difficult and overwhelming trying to sift through everything. After all, with so many applications in front of you, where do you begin? How do you know which applicants will make good tenants?
The good news is, there are a few telling signs as to whether or not your applicants will be good tenants. You just have to know what to look for so that you can easily identify the good from the bad and put your mind at ease.
- They Fill Out The Application Properly
A sign of a good potential tenant is that they properly fill out the application. This means that they include the appropriate documents that are asked for and fill out everything correctly. Completing some simple paperwork properly is a good sign that they’re responsible and reliable, whereas if the applicant can’t even fill out the application correctly or doesn’t provide the appropriate documents, that’s a bad sign — especially in the very beginning stages of the application process.
- They Don’t Move Too Often
Along with knowing the reason why your applicants want to move, it’s also important to know how often they’ve moved in the past. After all, one of the main (if not the main) qualities you should be looking for in a tenant is stability and financial responsibility. If they haven’t moved around too much in the past, that’s a good indicator that they got along well with their previous landlords and didn’t have anything disruptive happen while they were living there.
- They Have Good References
References are a great way to predict how a tenant will behave. Good references would show that a tenant paid rent on time, didn't damage the property and stayed in communication with the property manager. If a reference from a past landlord says that the tenant did thousands of dollars in damage to their last rental that should be an immediate red flag.
- Clean Background
During the tenant screening process, you’ll want to conduct a background check. A good tenant will have no past discretions and a clean criminal record. If they have a history of drug use and brush-ins with the law, chances are it will become a problem you’ll have to deal with so it’s advised to kindly decline and move right along to the next applicant.
- Good Credit
Don’t skip or underestimate the credit check. It’s a good indicator to the character and payment habits of your applicant. Neglecting the credit check is the most common mistake landlords make. Not paying their current bills? It’s likely they won’t pay the rent.
Final Thoughts
Finding a good tenant does take some patience but it’s worth it for the peace-of-mind later. Careful tenant screening is one of the most important tasks as a landlord or property manager, but with these specific screening tips, you’ll be on your way to a happy and easy renting experience.