Credit reports offer invaluable information to base your rental decisions on credit scores, tradelines, income-to-debt ratio, and much more. One thing you won’t find on a credit report, however, is an applicant’s rental history. Since landlords and property managers aren’t creditors, they don’t automatically report tenants’ payment history to the consumer credit reporting bureaus. What’s… Read more »
How to Read a Tenant Screening Report
For most landlords, finding great tenants is their top priority. Once you’ve determined the criteria for your ideal tenant, the next step is to screen applicants. Tenant screening is essential for finding the right tenants, so it’s important to know how to interpret the reports you receive. Here are some tips on how to read… Read more »
How to Screen a Commercial Tenant
You likely understand the importance of screening potential tenants for a residence, but many landlords don’t realize they should also be screening commercial tenants. Although it may seem like (as business owners themselves) commercial tenants would be more responsible tenants than residential tenants, this isn’t always the case. Unfortunately, there is still risk involved with… Read more »
Why Should You Request Proof of Income from Rental Applicants?
Proof of income is often required by experienced landlords; although it may feel like an invasion of privacy, requesting proof of income is an essential step in the application process that can help you decide whether a potential tenant is a good fit for your property. Here’s a look at which documents are considered proof… Read more »
What to Include in a Tenant Pet Agreement
Many landlords have strong feelings about tenants keeping pets in their rentals. Some landlords are against having pets on the property because of the potential for damage or liability issues; some may be willing to negotiate their pet policies on a case-by-case basis. Other landlords may be pet lovers themselves or recognize how allowing pets… Read more »
Rental Rate Increases Are Slowing Down—And the Trend Is Expected to Continue
The rental housing market is seeing a slowdown, as rent growth has dropped over the past several months. According to Jay Lybik, National Director of Multifamily Analytics, CoStar Group, “After four quarters of supply additions outpacing demand, the market is shifting with national asking rents declining over the last 90 days by 0.4%.” During the… Read more »
Are You Ready for Fall?
Fall is officially here, and cold winter weather won’t be far behind. Since winter temperatures can take a toll on buildings in many parts of the U.S., now is an ideal time to take care of maintenance at your rental properties. Performing basic maintenance now will ensure you’ll spend less time (and money) on roofing,… Read more »
How to Begin Building an Emergency Rental Fund
Whether you’re a homeowner or a landlord, it’s always wise to have an emergency fund to pull from when unexpected expenses come up. Most financial advisors recommend property owners save at least 3 – 6 months’ worth of expenses to cover maintenance, repairs, mortgage loss of income, and other financial concerns. However, only around 39%… Read more »
Cash for Keys: An Alternative to Eviction
For many landlords, the goal is to avoid spending money unless doing so will increase their return on investment (ROI). However, there are times when spending money to convince a tenant to leave is preferable to the time, costs, and hassle of eviction. Cash for keys is an ideal option for landlords who would like… Read more »
9 Tenant Questions That Should Make You Feel Triggered
One of the best things about tenant screening reports is that they give you plenty of objective information to base your rental decisions on. However, there’s still value to be had by paying close attention to the questions a potential tenant asks when you’re showing them your property. Here are some questions applicants may ask… Read more »