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Posted over 14 years ago

Keep your eyes open the moment prospective tenant pulls in the driveway

Start paying attention to the prospective tenant's behavior the moment they show up  in the driveway.

Example #1: one lady who came for the showing, parked in between two parking spaces. As a result, the next door neighbor  (homewoner) had to park on the street. If they obviously didn't learn by now how to be respectful (don't care how and where they park), chances are - they won't learn anything new if they get the place. 

Example #2: a family of four shows up for the showing. All four literally storm through the door and start wondering around before I even had a chance to say hello and introduce myself - and to ask to remove the shoes. Then they open each drawer and cabinet and appliance in the kitchen and leave it all open. They open deck and backyard door and don't bother to lock it. When you see behavior like this - can you spell "t-r-o-u-b-l-e" ? This alone tells me a lot about the family. 

 


Comments (6)

  1. I like your suggestion. I have been using it myself and it does work. Good luck with your rentals.


  2. Such a great tip. Your first impression is often a correct one, and using that example of the family that just storms in is a real scenario I observed last week. Wild!


  3. There are really those with that kind of attitude although you may correct them perhaps by talking to them politely.


  4. I've noticed this kind of thing in the past as well. Potential tenants are on good behavior and if they don't car then they are not likely to be better later.


  5. You do need to go into full blown observation mode. It's good to have someone with you to help, i.e. look at the car, talk to various family members, and then compare notes afterward.


  6. You do need to go into full blown observation mode. It's good to have someone with you to help, i.e. look at the car, talk to various family members, and then compare notes afterward.