Answer One: I have experienced all of the following. I couldn’t make them up!
They drive grandma’s car to the showing, but don’t have a driver’s license. I don’t care if they’re driving a rusty 1983 Oldsmobile with Pat Buchanan for President bumper stickers – unless it’s full of diapers, beer cans, and other trash. They arrive 30 minutes late to a showing, without explanation or “I’m sorry.” Will they pay rent on time? They park in a handicap space, or take up two spaces, or even park in the yard. They ask how often they’d have to mow or if I provide a snow blower. They belittle the property, saying things like, “That washing machine looks old. Can we get a new front-load?” when it’s a top-load less than 2 years old. Or, “No one has Formica kitchen counters,” in a $1000/mo home. They smell like smoke but claim they don’t smoke. Sometimes there’s a pack of Marlboro’s in a shirt pocket, but they still don’t smoke. They tell you they’ll park their boat beside the house (against city regs) or they love the 2.5 stall garage because he has a small motorcycle repair business (against city regs). It’s certainly better to hear these before lease signing!
They complain that the rent and deposit are too high. Would I have to hear that every month? A young couple comes in holding hands but says only one of them will be living in the home. Maybe. Maybe not. They won’t introduce me to their pet before lease signing. Why not? I advertise as “pet friendly,” but I’m not stupid. They have 6 large emotional support dogs for a family of 3 and lecture me (incorrectly) about ESA requirements. Mom brings her four kids along, and even though she screams at them at ear-piercing levels, they didn’t wipe the mud off their feet on the mat at the front door and continue to bounce on the bed.
Use your head. If they’re rude, aggressive, or confrontational during a showing, they’ll be worse as tenants protected by a lease. -Karen Guse
Answer Two: I had many potential tenants who wanted to rent the property, but who disqualified themselves in the first two minutes.
Red flags:
- Saying “I’m a great tenant, my landlords love me.”
- “You need me for your business.”
- “When I move in, I will paint the bedroom ______.”
- Assuming they will get it because they are the only ones interested or worthy.
- Saying landlords are dishonest (not a specific one, but all).
- Remarking that the floor plan needs to change – that wall (usually load bearing) needs to come out.
- Suggesting the rent is too high.
- Asking about late fees (this indicates they expect to pay late).
- Implying the landlord works for them.
- Saying anything that can be construed as “trust me”.
- Claiming skills they do not have that might seem attractive to a landlord (carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical). This one often falls apart upon any follow-up question.
- Being half an hour late without explanation or apology. I usually left after waiting half an hour, but sometimes a car would drive up as I was walking to mine. They never did well in the showing. Those who explained or texted saying they were on their way – they did okay. The ones who didn’t have enough respect to explain their tardiness and thank you for waiting also had tendencies not conducive to a trouble-free tenancy.
People exhibiting these behaviours were poor tenants. No one who is trustworthy ever asks you to trust them – they expect it. A good tenant never says they are a good tenant – they expect that to be obvious. Linda Hlynka
Answer Three: I’d always look in their car. If it was a mess – filled with fast food wrappers and dirty diapers and clouds of flies – that was a pretty good indicator of how they were going to treat the rental.
Complaining about the price or that it says “No Pets.” You knew the conditions when you saw the ad, and I’m happy to ask the owner (or pretend to ask the owner) if they will lower it or accept your three pit bulls, but don’t get all lippy with me about it.
Did they show up on time? Anyone who didn’t show up for an appointment without calling way beforehand was ignored in any future dealings – especially if they arranged a Saturday viewing. Everyone, almost without exception, has a smartphone and a calendar reminder.
Of course, except for the last one, none of them are grounds for denial, but I will be examining you closely before renting. Klaus Schadenfreude
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Reprinted with permission.