Applications for Mid Term Rentals

[Kathy Kifer]

Hi all,

My first post in this group. :)

I manage my own long term rentals. Part of my process is to email or hand the potential tenant an application to fill out (with pen) and they will either scan and email back to me, or hand it back. That application also has a form they sign authorizing me to ask for their credit history to be pulled thru SmartMove/Transunion. 

I've become confused with all these Mid Term rental "tutorials". I'm not seeing anyone mention sending an application. They seem to go from making contact with the potential tenant to pulling the credit, and if good, sending lease. I haven't paid for any of the Furnished Finder forms yet, but I'm not positive an application is part of the package. Am I missing something here?

For those of you that have Mid Terms and do send an application, is it all electronic or is asking these mid term tenants to print, fill out, and scan back, an ok practice? I don't want to come across as a dummy! LOL. The application that I use is very thorough, asks for occupation, who will be living there, cars, etc. I use Docusign for my leases, but docusign with that application with the formatting gets to be a mess.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Bonnie Low]

I don't use an application with my MTR guests. I DO use the background check feature available through the Furnished Finder affiliate, Keycheck. It provides a criminal, eviction and credit score check. It's inexpensive and it's very fast. Typically I will have some back and forth discussion with people who inquire about our properties. The typical 'what brings you to this area, what do you do for a living, anyone traveling with you, pets, etc' and then they usually want to know about the neighborhood and the proximity to hospitals, universities, recreation etc. By the time we've had that conversation I have a pretty good feel for them and then we move foward with the background check, lease agreement and then deposit(s). You always run the risk of having a terrible guest. That happens in long term, short term and midterm. It's almost inevitable so do what you feel most comfortable with. 

[Nicole Heasley Beitenman]

You're probably seeing less about applications because the most frequently discussed MTR tenant is a travel nurse who provides a contract, and the hospital already does a background check. 

First, I wouldn't hand an applicant a paper application even if they were local. That's a hassle for both me and the tenant. For my LTRs, I embeded a Google form into a Weebly website and created my own electronic application. No trees killed. They initiate their own credit and background check. 

That being said, I don't see any reason why you couldn't continue to use your application with MTR tenants as long as it's revised to accommodate them. But if I'm a tenant in a more saturated market, I'm much less likely to pursue a unit that has me scanning stuff.

[Brett Deas]

Nobody ever does the same thing with mid-terms and tenants know this. Do what works best for you. 

[Michael Diossa]

I always do Electronically, It's faster and more convenient.

Granted I use a PM software but I heard someone use rentredi to collect rent, send leases and apps.They love it.

Might be worth it to look at.

[Jamie Banks]

For my medium term rentals, I don't require an application because I get mostly traveling medical professionals and digital nomads who are screened through the booking platform (hello landing). MTRs are a hybrid approach between STRs and LTRs. For instance, the guest typically moves in site unseen like with STRs but typically are screened similar to LTRs. One of my MTRs is a house hack and I wanted to get more information than I usually require on the renter since they'll be living in my primary home. I just typed the questions out on google doc, shared it with the guest, and once they filled it out I saved down a copy, you could do something similar if you want to send each guest an application.  

[Kathy Kifer]

Thanks for your input everyone! @Jamie Banks, mine is a house hack also :). That google doc idea is actually pretty smart!

I'm going to be requiring renters insurance, and it seems that there is varied opinions on that also. I would rather be safe than sorry, is the way I look at it. My place is btw 3-4 miles from 2 brand new Children's Hospitals. I am a nurse by background, spent close to 30 yrs in the medical field. I'm pretty sure I won't have an issue renting :)

[Gretchen P.]

Quote from @Nicole Heasley Beitenman:

You're probably seeing less about applications because the most frequently discussed MTR tenant is a travel nurse who provides a contract, and the hospital already does a background check. 

First, I wouldn't hand an applicant a paper application even if they were local. That's a hassle for both me and the tenant. For my LTRs, I embeded a Google form into a Weebly website and created my own electronic application. No trees killed. They initiate their own credit and background check. 

That being said, I don't see any reason why you couldn't continue to use your application with MTR tenants as long as it's revised to accommodate them. But if I'm a tenant in a more saturated market, I'm much less likely to pursue a unit that has me scanning stuff.

I was only requiring a contract thinking it would double as a background check. After 13 great experiences in 3 units, I had 2 CNA tenants trash a unit in 3 months, left evidence of drug use, smoked in the unit, had an unapproved pet poop and pee on carpets and in the bed, damaged or stole several items and shorted me on the last month's rent. When I did a quick Google search, oh boy. One of them had an assault charge and eviction, and the mystery of why the other one broke the bed was solved; she has an OnlyFans. I will require background checks just like my LTR tenants. 

Sad these women are allowed near patients, they lived like pigs. 

[Nick Zupec]

I'm a little late to this thread... but I screen my MTR tenants just like LTR tenants too. I have a subscription to Adobe Acrobat which is only $13/month and lets you create really nice fillable PDFs that are easy to use and can be signed electronically. I email these to potential tenants and 90% of them fill them out electronically and email them back. 10% still print it and fill it out with a pen and scan it to send back and that is fine too. The last page is the authorization to do the credit and background check. I'm generally less concerned about the traveling health professionals, but I still like to make sure they meet all of our criteria. This also protects us from fair housing or discrimination claims because we have the same standard process that we use for everyone.

[Kathy Kifer]

Quote from @Nick Zupec:

I'm a little late to this thread... but I screen my MTR tenants just like LTR tenants too. I have a subscription to Adobe Acrobat which is only $13/month and lets you create really nice fillable PDFs that are easy to use and can be signed electronically. I email these to potential tenants and 90% of them fill them out electronically and email them back. 10% still print it and fill it out with a pen and scan it to send back and that is fine too. The last page is the authorization to do the credit and background check. I'm generally less concerned about the traveling health professionals, but I still like to make sure they meet all of our criteria. This also protects us from fair housing or discrimination claims because we have the same standard process that we use for everyone.

@Nick Zupec - After writing this post, I went ahead and created an electronic application to be used in DocuSign. I've decided to do just as you mentioned also......screen just like LTR. Had to make a couple wording tweaks to the lease, but for the most part, the same lease as I use for LTR. Glad you mentioned the Auth for Credit and Background.....I'm still going to do that also, even though I have the renters use SmartMove. I've tried to follow the same process as a couple Real Estate agent friends when they write up a lease here in Texas.

[Kathy Kifer]

Quote from @Gretchen P.:

Quote from @Nicole Heasley Beitenman:

You're probably seeing less about applications because the most frequently discussed MTR tenant is a travel nurse who provides a contract, and the hospital already does a background check. 

First, I wouldn't hand an applicant a paper application even if they were local. That's a hassle for both me and the tenant. For my LTRs, I embeded a Google form into a Weebly website and created my own electronic application. No trees killed. They initiate their own credit and background check. 

That being said, I don't see any reason why you couldn't continue to use your application with MTR tenants as long as it's revised to accommodate them. But if I'm a tenant in a more saturated market, I'm much less likely to pursue a unit that has me scanning stuff.

I was only requiring a contract thinking it would double as a background check. After 13 great experiences in 3 units, I had 2 CNA tenants trash a unit in 3 months, left evidence of drug use, smoked in the unit, had an unapproved pet poop and pee on carpets and in the bed, damaged or stole several items and shorted me on the last month's rent. When I did a quick Google search, oh boy. One of them had an assault charge and eviction, and the mystery of why the other one broke the bed was solved; she has an OnlyFans. I will require background checks just like my LTR tenants. 

Sad these women are allowed near patients, they lived like pigs. 

@Gretchen P. -  A good lesson for us to never let our guard down on any tenants. Thank you for sharing.

[Bonnie Low]

I don't use an application with my MTR guests. I DO use the background check feature available through the Furnished Finder affiliate, Keycheck. It provides a criminal, eviction and credit score check. It's inexpensive and it's very fast. Typically I will have some back and forth discussion with people who inquire about our properties. The typical 'what brings you to this area, what do you do for a living, anyone traveling with you, pets, etc' and then they usually want to know about the neighborhood and the proximity to hospitals, universities, recreation etc. By the time we've had that conversation I have a pretty good feel for them and then we move foward with the background check, lease agreement and then deposit(s). You always run the risk of having a terrible guest. That happens in long term, short term and midterm. It's almost inevitable so do what you feel most comfortable with. 

[Gretchen P.]

@Bonnie Low

Who pays for the background check using keycheck?

[Raj Konda]

@Bonnie Low  I check the box where tenant pays for it

[Bonnie Low]

Quote from @Gretchen P.:

@Bonnie Low

Who pays for the background check using keycheck?

 The tenant pays for it. Keycheck sends them the link and they have to pay in order for it to get processed and delivered to you.