First Furnished Finders listing. Anything I should know?

Question

Decided to list on Furnished Finders for one place since it was never really fully utilized as a true STR. Got my first request just now and wanted to ask for advice. FF says to sign up with their partner company, KeyCheck to do the background check and collect the payments. Is this a good way to do it? Any other thoughts? I've had this booked only as a STR through ABNB and VRBO for 2 years.

TIA

Carolyn Fuller · Answer

I use apartments.com for MTR rent payments. They also have background check functionality but I don't use it since my tenants are international. They also have lease functionality but I have heard awful things about it.

I've created my own MTR lease based on the standard Fixed Term Massachusetts non-renewalable lease. In my case, I want to advertise and potentially lease for the next academic term as soon as the current term lease is signed which is why my leases are non-renewable.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

The guy is a travelling Contractor. Reminds me of me. What could go wrong? 🤪

Manco Snead · Answer

RE investor and traveler health care worker here. Don't cheap out on all the furnishings and make it quiet, decent furniture/appliances, no mini fridges, etc. Many (not all) that use that site are traveling health care workers; many already own a house, have organized lives, makes good $, etc. In other words they're great tenants but they're not going to have any patience for a crappy rental where the owner cut corners, is dirty, nothing works, barking dogs next door. They'll just bail then leave you a horrible review, as I did for a FF rental.

Zeona McIntyre · Answer

@Bruce Woodruff There are many places to get a background check. I usually use zillow because it allows the guest to reuse the screening to apply for other places if we are not a fit, without having to pay again.

I just heard about autohost.ai that has ala cart screening options for much cheaper than the usual $40 for credit, background, eviction.

Bonnie Low · Answer

Hi @Bruce Woodruff - I do use Keycheck for the background check when renting to someone who is not a travel medical professional. It's easy and costs me nothing - I just generate the request and the renter pays the $39 fee. It's also super fast. You get a criminal background check, eviction check, and credit score. Using it saved my bacon on my first potential guest who was not a travel medical professional - just someone new to town who needed "temporary housing". Ultimately I decided to decline her. She said all the right things but her credit score came back showing that every single debt she had - both old and very, very recent - she was delinquent on so I figured no way was she going to pay her rent to me. I know I dodged a bullet on that one. Personally, I don't require the Keycheck background check for travel medical professionals IF they're willing to share with me a copy of their fully executed employment contract. I am satisfied with that and so far it has worked for me. The employer's background check doesn't include an eviction check and possibly doesn't include a credit score check either, but so far this has worked for me and this renter pool tends to be reliable. I DO require the keycheck background check if any other adult is going to be staying in the home, though, and I require that they be on the lease agreement. I started off using the Keycheck state-specific lease agreement but have since worked with an attorney to modify it. I do NOT use keycheck for collecting payments, though. I simply use Venmo or Apple Pay. It's fast and comes directly to me. I've resisted accepting other forms of payment like Zelle simply because I don't want to manage a bunch of different accounts and no one has balked at that. Personally, I'm enjoying this niche and have had EXCELLENT guests. And I love that I only have to turn this property a few times/year. Hope this helps and good luck to you!

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Thanks. I wouldn't go cheap. This is a current vacation rental that has 5 star reviews

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Lol. I know, I was just seeing if you guys were paying attention ...🤣

Brooklyn McCarty · Answer

Absolutely get a background check and a signed lease. They aren’t a guest, they are a tenant

Colleen F. · Answer

@Chris I. Alot of that is health care workers trying to conserve their travel stipend and failing to understand that unfurnished rental rates have gone up and utilities have gone up so a furnished utility included rental will be more then they paid a few years ago.  You may have a better monthly rate then your daily STR rate and it is good but they still consider it too expensive.  2 of 3 MTR were non-healthcare for me.  I can't do STR for that unit but my understanding is if you can rent fully as a STR you make out better, if you  can't this is a decent option.

First Furnished Finders listing. Anything I should know?

Most Popular Reply