All Forum Posts by: Aaron Millis

Jack V. Ospina Okay thank you for your input. Do you have any recommendations for where to find an electronic/online lease and contract for lease like what you just explained. And also an electronic/ online rental agreement? - because that sounds far more simple than the route I was going to take.

So I am in the process of getting my first tenants for my first rental property. I've met them and pre screened them- they've seen the property and they're ready to apply. The thing is their lease won't begin until a July 1 (because college). Emailing them the rental application should be simple, but if they all check out how will signing the lease go? Sorry I forgot to mention that they all live states away and won't be back in my town till they move in in July. I'm assuming I would need everyone to sign my lease in person is that right? Also if that Is the case-can I collect the deposit before they all come back and sign the lease? Because I definitely want the deposit now for less risk. Also also can I charge the deposit and the first months rent now? Or can that only be done the day of moving in? Sorry for all the newbie questions, I feel like that have simple answers I'm just trying to make sure I make the right moves.

@Will Gaston Thank you for your input. Your post was also very insightful thank you.

@Andrew S.  Thank you for your input. Since you have a similar rental(s) I want to ask you- Is it common for people to charge a higher rent for a room that will be occupied by two people? In my case it is a girlfriend and boyfriend. I'm not sure if that is a protected class since its not a familial status since they are not together. It's just something I never really thought about. Thanks

@Thomas S. Thank for your input. I definitely planned on charging the deposit upon them signing the lease, but I was actually not sure if that was legal or if you had to wait until the move in date. But judging by the responses in here I can tell its legal and common.

@Sachin H. I am not opposed to renting it now vs in August but the vast majority of people that have been asking about my place are locked into a lease and would only be able to move in in August. I have 3 different rooms available and am open to leasing them out separately. 

Hi all. If I had a prospective tenant(s) decide they would like to rent from me August, would I have them sign the lease now as well as collecting the security deposit this far in advance? I know people sign leases very soon here where I am in a college town but I just wasn't sure about the security deposit. Thanks

Hi all,

I am on the verge of being ready to list my property for rent and start the entire renting process. However I was wondering what the order of operations is for renting your property. I have never rented a property myself so that is why I am somewhat clueless. Here is my guess of how it goes..

List the property for rent

handle phone calls from perspective tenants

mini pre screen them over the phone

show them the property- and give them an application

choose from your applicants and have them sign your lease

I feel like it goes something like that i may have messed up the order, or maybe it does not really matter at all and its all personal preference. I would like to know how some of you reading this do it. And also if you can provide insight on how parents co-signing for their college kids works i would appreciate that. I know it is likely i will need that done, and i am not sure how the process for that works. Do i have to run two seperate checks for the tenant and their parent? If the tenant did not meet the credit or income standards then i am guessing i would need to see all of the parents income and credit history?  

Sorry for all the newbie questions

Hi all,

Basically I am wanting to know how all of you went about making your first lease agreement. I know they have places online where you can create your own but it makes me nervous to just do it all solo, because I am not certain of all the legal requirements and the last thing that I want to do it screw myself over with my lease. I know I can go to a real estate attorney and I will if I need to. But I would rather not spend hundreds of dollars over something that is probably relatively simple if I can help it. Any input is appreciate, thanks!

Wilson Lee do you have his contact info? There are multiple people with his name around here when I do a google search.