How do I choose tenants if there are multiple, very good pre-screened candidates?

[Muki Naseer]

I have at least 4 couples who (at least in pre-screening) score almost identically high. I have not yet asked them to apply, and therefore I haven't collected any application fee from them. I don't want ALL of them to unneccessarily pay the application fee and have their background/credit run if i'm only going to pick 1. Should I go with the background check on the first couple and do the due diligence on the references etc. and then move on to the next, and so on and so forth?

How do most of you handle this "good problem" ?

[Jon Holdman]

First come, first served.  I have specific criteria.  I process applications in the order there were submitted.  The first acceptable candidate is the one I offer the place to.  If they want it and give me money, its theirs.  If not, I keep going down the list.  First one to sign on the dotted line and hand over cash gets it.  If I still have other applicants that I've not processed I return those along with their fee.

My concern with processing multiple applications and then trying to choose among multiple qualified applications is that its easy to be accused of discrimination.  With a specific, written set of criteria, the first one that meets those and is willing to pay is the one I take.  If they don't pass screening, I have a specific reason for rejection because they didn't meet one of the criteria.

I also do not do any sort of "prescreening".  When they call I give them the high points of the criteria and ask "will any of that be a problem?"  When people show up at a showing I offer them applications and show them my written criteria.  Folks who really want the place fill out the application on the spot, I collect their fee (cash only, been burned on this) and note the date and time on the application.