Atlanta, GA · Member since 2018 · 44 posts · 8 votes
I have a prospective tenant that is eager to move b/c he is living out of a hotel now (in the midst of a divorce; divorce hasn't finalized yet).
He hasn't started the application process yet but when I mentioned cost to move in + presenting 2 pay stubs and 2 bank statements, he didn't seem to wince (though, we were speaking over the phone).
His income, credit score, criminal history, eviction history still hasn't been verified/checked.
But I'm still new to this and I don't know if tenants in a rush to move can cause problems later... In your experience, can they?
Rental Property Investor · Ankeny, IA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y
@Account Closed Yes, there are indeed logical reasons why tenants may want to move in a hurry. I had a tenant that relocated here for work and was living in a hotel. $100 a day. He was most anxious and happy to pay my $1,325 a month rent. Wanted to move in the same day he saw the unit. Of course, there was paperwork and verification to do.
Make sure you do not skip any steps of your process, but also make it a priority to get through the process quickly. A couple things I would make sure is; they must pay rent and security deposit in cash for this first payment. Do not assume any other type of payment will clear your account and not end up being pulled back as fraudulent.
Also, if you require utilities in their name, verify that they have actually been transferred prior to giving the tenants the keys. This is in my lease. Even if they sign the lease, that doesn't mean they can just move in.
If they are actually going through a divorce, then go online to the clerk of courts and see what pops up under their name (which i do for all prospective tenants anyway).
So yes, it could be a "danger" or "red flag", or it could just be exactly what this person says. He's living in a hotel and really would like to get into a place quickly do to ongoing divorce proceedings. Trust....but verify...
Contractor · Pensacola, FL · Member since 2018 · 303 posts · 240 votes
7y
Oh yes !!! Danger danger ! Unless it is a tragedy like a fire,hurricane,mud slide .....normal people do not move in a hurry .WATCH OUT ALWAYS CHECK THE TENANT
I hate to even meet him if he's probably going to be waste of time...
I should have mentioned that, over the phone, he asked how soon he can move in.... If I'd said "tomorrow", I'm fairly certain he'd have packed his bags and got the funds ready (or would the funds have been "ready"? Maybe only the bags would have been packed...).
*sigh* Thanks you, guys. I'll follow up with him by email... maybe...
Rental Property Investor · Ankeny, IA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y
@Account Closed Yes, there are indeed logical reasons why tenants may want to move in a hurry. I had a tenant that relocated here for work and was living in a hotel. $100 a day. He was most anxious and happy to pay my $1,325 a month rent. Wanted to move in the same day he saw the unit. Of course, there was paperwork and verification to do.
Make sure you do not skip any steps of your process, but also make it a priority to get through the process quickly. A couple things I would make sure is; they must pay rent and security deposit in cash for this first payment. Do not assume any other type of payment will clear your account and not end up being pulled back as fraudulent.
Also, if you require utilities in their name, verify that they have actually been transferred prior to giving the tenants the keys. This is in my lease. Even if they sign the lease, that doesn't mean they can just move in.
If they are actually going through a divorce, then go online to the clerk of courts and see what pops up under their name (which i do for all prospective tenants anyway).
So yes, it could be a "danger" or "red flag", or it could just be exactly what this person says. He's living in a hotel and really would like to get into a place quickly do to ongoing divorce proceedings. Trust....but verify...
After all is said and done if you decide to take a chance use a M2M lease. You do not want to get tied to a term lease with someone going through a divorce. Too many different senerios to imagine. You want to be able to get out quickly if it should turn out bad.
Contractor · Pensacola, FL · Member since 2018 · 303 posts · 240 votes
7y
Oh yes !!! Danger danger ! Unless it is a tragedy like a fire,hurricane,mud slide .....normal people do not move in a hurry .WATCH OUT ALWAYS CHECK THE TENA
Architect · Papillion, NE · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 840 votes
7y
If he never turns in an application then you never have to review or approve it. There is a possibility after the divorce he couldn't afford the rent due to alimony etc. He may no longer make 3x the rent and you will be dealing with an eviction.
Atlanta, GA · Member since 2018 · 44 posts · 8 votes
7y
Thanks, @Jim Adrian!!! Yes - on the application, I'm expecting to see the mortgage from his old home on his list of current mthly payments since he'll likely still be on the line for that...
That's IF we get to the application...
I'm starting to get a little better picture of what his profile will look like...
Investor · Wellington, KS · Member since 2016 · 256 posts · 188 votes
7y
I generally agree that a tenant in a hurry to move is a red flag. However, I also was in his exact situation years ago and was a model tenant. He may welcome MTM because his living situation is in flux. Check him out like normal and if he meets your criteria you just found a tenant at a slow time of year to fill vacancies. I would consider a higher rent to mitigate the higher turnover risk. BTW, I lived in the rental for 6 months before moving back into my own home when the ex didn't keep it. I was in the motel because the ex filed the divorce out of the blue. Could be similar for him.
Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
7y
@Jihan Shareef
I was in a similar situation years back. I showed up to a PM’s office that I did work for on her properties, in need of a quick apartment after my marriage ended with not hint of marital issues that I knew of. I was in an apartment in 5 days. There are good people in bad situations..
@Account Closed Yes, there are indeed logical reasons why tenants may want to move in a hurry. I had a tenant that relocated here for work and was living in a hotel. $100 a day. He was most anxious and happy to pay my $1,325 a month rent. Wanted to move in the same day he saw the unit. Of course, there was paperwork and verification to do.
Make sure you do not skip any steps of your process, but also make it a priority to get through the process quickly. A couple things I would make sure is; they must pay rent and security deposit in cash for this first payment. Do not assume any other type of payment will clear your account and not end up being pulled back as fraudulent.
Also, if you require utilities in their name, verify that they have actually been transferred prior to giving the tenants the keys. This is in my lease. Even if they sign the lease, that doesn't mean they can just move in.
If they are actually going through a divorce, then go online to the clerk of courts and see what pops up under their name (which i do for all prospective tenants anyway).
So yes, it could be a "danger" or "red flag", or it could just be exactly what this person says. He's living in a hotel and really would like to get into a place quickly do to ongoing divorce proceedings. Trust....but verify...
This scenario happened to me. I arrived in Florida after driving across the country (I had just sold my home on the West coast, had no job, and technically was homeless at that point). I wanted to move in as soon as I could. The landlord checked me out (credit and background check) and required I get an account with the local utility because they needed the account number for the lease. I moved in about a week later, but the delay was due mainly to the landlord getting the unit ready for occupancy. There had been a miscommunication between the maintenance and leasing staff about its readiness.
Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
7y
What is just as common is someone got evicted and is in a hotel and is looking for their next house to flop in . I have had both , divorce and need a place quick , and evicted and need a place quick
Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y
People have lives. Things change, marriages crumble etc.
As long as he passes screening it is a good thing he can move right in. Less vacancy for you.
One thing you will learn is not to try to judge others. People lead lives in their own way. I dont care as long as they pass screening and live by the rules of the lease.
Now, i have higher end rentals so maybe lower end is different. But i let the screening process do its job.
Tacoma, WA · Member since 2018 · 24 posts · 21 votes
7y
@Jihan Shareef
You could also ask to see the last 2 or 3 utilitie bills from his home to verify that he was actually living there. There is also a chance he didn't get evicted but got paid cash for keys. That wouldn't show up on eviction records. He could be making up the divorce story so he doesn't have to tell you about his previous residence and have the landlord give a bad reference.
Or he could be a good guy.
I'm going to hope for and believe the later but I would double check for the former.
Good luck.
Through this post, I’m learning the different ways that tenants can attempt to hide current evictions... or hide evictions without even trying!
This is great stuff.
Yes - he sounded sincere over the phone. His tone and delivery of the story didn’t raise any flags. Divorces happen. But his urgency still threw me off so I wanted to check with you guys first to learn about possible, unforeseen dangers before moving forward.