Pre-qualifying before showing?

Question

What do you guys think about requiring possible tenants to fill out a zillow app before showing the house?  It sure would save a lot of time and trouble for everyone involved.   But does that turn away too many good potentials?  TIA

Patrick O'Sullivan · Answer

Hi @Carol Burns , great question. It is a common dilemma for landlords trying to balance efficiency with keeping the funnel open to qualified tenants.

Pre-screening before showings can be a huge time-saver, especially if you're in a hot market where inquiries flood in. That said, requiring a full Zillow application (including background and credit checks) before even seeing the property might be a bit much for some renters and could deter solid candidates who aren’t ready to commit that early.

One approach I’ve found effective is using a quick pre-screening form with just basic info like income, move-in timeline, pets, and any deal breakers before offering a showing. Then I reserve full applications (with screening fees) for folks who’ve seen the place and are serious.

It’s a balance, but setting clear expectations up front in your listing and messages can help filter out the non-serious inquiries without scaring off the good ones.

Hope that helps!

Victor Soni · Answer

Hi Carol, yes I do that exactly.

I post the listing on Zillow. When people request a tour via Zillow Messenger, I have a link to a google form that ask them a series of questions. Also, I ask them to apply through Zillow so I do not waste time showing a house to someone who won't qualify. As a side note, in my Zillow Rental Listing, it spells out all our criteria including a Security Deposit Risk Mitigation Chart so they know exactly where they stand. Once I review that application, I message them to schedule a showing.

Jules Aton · Answer

Too time consuming and I wouldn't do it as a prospective tenant. Generally speaking the folks who didn't qualify, had bad credit or wanted me to consider Section 8 were up front about it before scheduling an appointment to view. My rental portfolio was small usually 3-4 and in nice neighborhoods so probably not worth much but anecdotally I never had what I considered frivolous showings.