Every property owner wants to find that perfect tenant for a rental property. There are a few steps you can take before choosing a tenant to ensure you will find a high quality renter who is going to take care of your Santa Cruz home and be easy to work with.
Make sure you have a good rental criteria with your application. This will help you better screen for that perfect tenant. What you are looking for is a good income, a solid rental history, reliable employment and excellent references. The first step is establishing this criteria so you know exactly who you are looking for.
When you talk to potential tenants on the phone who might be calling for more information or to set up a visit to the property, explain to them exactly what you will need from them if they want to fill out an application. Not only will this save everyone time, but it will give you an idea of whether or not they are able to listen to you and follow directions. If applicants show up at your property without all of the things you requested, that will tell you a lot. A perfect tenant will be prepared. A less than perfect tenant who cannot follow your simple instructions might also have a problem following what is in the lease.
Pay attention to how the potential tenants treat the property when they do arrive for a viewing. You can do a subtle prescreening process at this point, just by watching how they behave and what they do. If they respect the property, they will take their shoes off at the front door instead of tracking mud all through the house. If the kids are out of control and jumping on the furniture, you may have something to worry about. Trust the personal feeling you have with the renters. Good communication and mutual respect from the very beginning will indicate you may have found a perfect tenant. You will also get an idea of what kind of neighbors they will be to the people who live around your property. You do not want to get phone calls from people next door complaining about your tenants.
If you need any help finding a perfect tenant, or you would like more information on listing and managing your property, please contact us at Portola Property Management, and we’d be happy to talk to you.
