How to make sure the "previous landlord" is not a friend?
any tricks anyone care to share?
On a tenant application where you asked for last or the one before that landlord, how do you know you are not talking to a friend?
Now, obviously, if the address supplied by the applicant, through an online search from the address using the county tax assessor's site, yield the same owner name you will be calling, more than likely you are talking to the right person.
but sometimes you are given a different name, because...
"He owns the property but his cousin, Bluto Blutarsky, handles everything so here is his number".
or "he uses a property management company, a guy name Bluto Blutarsky, self employed and here is his number".
or may be the owner's name is right, but the phone number is one of his friends and as soon as you called and asked for "Mr. Bluto Blutarsky" his friend says "oh yeah, that's me, I am supposed to be the landlord..."
So how do you make sure that person on the other side of the phone is legit?
Do you ask trick questions? Like "so he paid you $2300 a month for a 1/1? Why you let her go?" or what?