How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting Good Tenants

As a landlord, such as those at ABA Rental Properties Inc, your goal is to get the best tenant possible for your rental property. After all, every time your rental leases turn over, it costs you money. There's the fee to the real estate agent for showing your property, the cost of having the property deep-cleaned and/or repaired for the next tenant, and of course the rental money lost during vacant periods. Here's a list of ways to increase your chances of getting good tenants who will stay for the long term and take care of the property.

1. Invest in a background check.

A background check is different than a credit check. The credit check investigates the financial risk of an applicant, but the background check investigates what kind of person they are. Many employers conduct background checks as part of their pre-screening process, so you shouldn't feel guilty about wanting to find out if an applicant has an arrest record, or has legal complaints against them. A background check can be done with a name and a social security number for identification purposes.

2. Speak to former landlords.

A simple phone call to a previous landlord can reveal a lot about the condition in which the applicant left their former rental property. The landlord may not want to give you any detailed information due to the potential for slander, but you can ask vague questions that have to do with facts, such as:

• Did they fulfill the terms of the lease?
• Were you able to give them their deposit back in full?

If the answers you receive have a negative connotation, proceed with caution in your decision whether to let them lease from you or not.

3. Build a friendly rapport with the candidate.

A simple, friendly conversation can give insights into things that can make them a good choice or a poor one. During your talk, you can inquire casually about how they came to choose your property and if they think they'll stay long in the area. You can also judge whether they present themselves in a way that gives you confidence in their ability to hold down a job; thereby being able to pay the rent.

It's difficult to always make the right choices when renting to tenants. You want to be fair to those who may be down on their luck, but you also need to cover your own interests. These tips should help you to make the best decision for you, the candidate, and your property.