Monthly Archives: September 2011

I wrote the following back in 2007.  It still holds true today.

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As a real estate investment counselor I have the opportunity to interact with a lot of tenant/landlord situations.  Of course, I manage my own properties and I help others to do the same if they choose not to go down the road of hiring a property manager.

I believe proper tenant screening is the best way to avoid troubles down the road.  You should subscribe to a service that will run credit reports and criminal background checks and the sexual offenders list.  But sometimes the best way to get a good feeling, or bad, about prospective tenants is just have a conversation with them.  And throw in these questions.  Not in bullet form as presented here.  But in the course of showing the rental property and going over the lease application.

6 Questions to Ask Prospective Tenants

1. Why are you moving?
2. Lived there long?
3. Ever considered buying your own home?  (comment: I don’t ask because I’m a REALTOR.  I ask because they will bring up credit issues, divorce issues, criminal issues, everything under the sun.)
4. What changes made to your current residence would make you want to stay?
5. What would your commute be from here?
6. Is there anything you need to explain before I find it on the credit report?

Seemingly innocuous questions designed to generate conversation.  Give it a try.  You’ll find out a lot about the people.