Life Is Not What Happens to Us but How We React To What Happens

Recently I received an email from a potential tenant asking about a vacancy. The situation, I believe, is a perfect example of where we, as property managers, can get caught up in feeling as opposed to following our process and guidelines.  This is not a horror story... because I didn't give it the potential to become one.  First the email string and then my thought process.

Potential Tenant

On Sep 3, 2015, at 8:48 PM,
XXXXXXXXXX wrote:
Hello,
My
name is XXXXXXX, I am currently working for XXXXXX
Health
Group. I have 2 kids and my spouse who is also working as a
contractor,
repairing homes. Unfortunately, we are currently residing at
People Serving People, I was laid off and fell behind in bills,
including my rent at the time. I was able to land a good job with
excellent pay and a promising future with the company. I would love to see your
beautiful home, but also understand if you are unable to work with us
due to our misfortunes. I can be reached at XXXXXXX and was hoping
to move from the shelter asap. I do hope to hear from you
soon.
Thank you

My Response

Subject: Re: Huge Private Yard With Deck Close to Everything
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2015, 9:56 PM

Hi XXXXX:
The email below is unclear as to what your situation is.
Were you evicted at some point in the past? If so, this
would exclude you from renting this house. Otherwise, if
you were late on rent or something but your previous
landlords have good things to say, that can be overcome.

Potential Tenant

On Sep 4, 2015, at 10:53 AM, XXXXXXX wrote:

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my email. Yes, I would be disqualified due to a previous eviction, but thank you for letting me know.

XXXXXXX

My Thoughts

At first blush this email sounds fairly innocuous.  They ran in to some hard times and are now back on their feet.  She works in the Health Care field which means she probably makes good money.  He is a contractor which means he'll probably fix stuff around the house without a bunch of service calls etc.  And, who doesn't want to help someone get back on their feet.  I'm not totally heartless.  Or am I...

If you dig a little deeper and read what she didn't say...

- in the first email she didn't come out and say they were evicted.  She may have applied but I had to ask.  This is indicative of how they deal with landlords.  Hiding things is not a good way to start a relationship.

- Unless their previous land lord was a totally moronic ass, they would of course let them out of their lease if they couldn't afford it.  We as landlords don't make money evicting people.  It costs time and money.  If these applicants were to go to their landlord and explain the situation they could have most likely negotiated getting out of the lease with minimal cost or negotiated a payment plan to stay in the property.  As a manager, I would choose the former and would never let them have a payment plan.  That is unless they could get a super strong cosigner and pay interest / late fees etc.  Does this make me a scrooge?  So be it, the bank won't care when I tell them I couldn't collect rent because of blah blah blah.  I have to stick with my written policies (I'm happy to send you my operations manuals if you send an email and ask) to protect the asset. 

This is the very reason we do not rent to people who have evictions on their records.  With the possible exception of a total jerk landlord, it is very easy to avoid having an eviction in one's past.  

Life is not what happens to us but how we react to what happens to us.  People who get evicted react to life's misfortunes poorly and I believe that makes them poor tenants.