Tenants and Guarantor Dilemna

[Abby Vuong]

Hi Everyone, 

I am in need of some major advice.  I am starting out with my first rental in Maryland and decided to hire a real estate agent.  My realtor has made a couple of errors with the listing and showing process, so I am not sure I can rely on her work.

My realtor is pushing for this one applicant.  They are a young couple, 28 and 29, one is a graduate student and one is starting his business, but both have no real income or job.  They also have a big dog.   They got his parents as the guarantor with a lot of funds in the bank, but my realtor won't show me the credit report.  

We renovated our whole house and put a lot of money into it, our house is considered a luxury rental, so I am a little nervous renting to renters with such a large dog (Mastif).  My question are:

1.  Am I allowed to request a credit report of tenant and guarantor from my realtor?

2. With no real job or prior rental, what other ways can I check the actual tenants besides interviewing with them?

3.  Any questions I should ask during the interview?

4.  My realtor told me I can ask for 2 months rent as a deposit, but that's the most I can do to protect myself.  What if the dog and tenant damages more than that?  

5.  Besides having the guarantor signed an agreement also, what else can I do to protect myself from the tenant leaving and the guarantor refusing to pay?

I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions.

Thanks a million!

[David Wurzel]

Since you are asking these questions your gut is already telling you what to do.

You are in business.  This rental is an investment. 

Fire the realtor and rent it your self.  If you only have this one rental it's simple.

You have proven your instincts are fine.  Listen to them.