Application and fee or apartment showing first?

Question

Account Closed · Answer

After. Be sure to pre-screen them prior to showing to ensure they meet your rental criteria. Then, show pre-approved prospects and if they like the property and want to proceed, you can run the application. There's no sense going through the application process if the property doesn't work for them. Congrats on your first rental and kudos on your decision to Rent It Yourself! If you have any questions or need additional help, don't hesitate to ask.

Deanna McCormick · Answer

Best method is to phone qualify them first. discuss the rent, the application fee per adult.  the number of people permitted in that size duplex, that you screen for credit score of xxx or over, verifiable income source, and you verify housing references, and if that works for them you'd like to set an appointment up for showing your showing apartment on >>> date betweeen >>>and >>>.

Meet them, show them the  apartment have application ready for them to fill out with ID you can verify.

Why anyone would expect someone to do an applicaion with fee's prior to seeing the unit or verifying in advance that their ID matches to whom is applying is rather ODD.

I've had people apply that couldn't come in person,, moving from out of state.. and I required copy of photo ID, application fee's via overnight mail.. and its worked but average is phone info, meet, show, apply, process application.

Have your lease and documents ready, per your state law requirements.

So spend some time researching that first.

And know your fair housing laws.....

Michele Fischer · Answer

The only time I wouldn't show them the unit before taking an application is if it is occupied.  Then I want to do some due diligence before disturbing the current tenant.  Try to schedule appointments back to back or overlapping to be efficient with your time, try to encourage them to fill out the application offsite.  If someone wants to apply and know before they see the place this is a red flag to me that they are desperate.  You can learn a lot at the showings if you ask the right questions and keep your eyes peeled.

Dana Dunford · Answer

Definitely after -- you will want to pre-qualify them before the showing, but you don't want the application fee to give them reason to not view the property and fall in love with it. In fact, I've never heard of anyone who charges before the viewing.