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Pre-Screening Process
When a potential tenant reaches out to you via Phone, Text, Email, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, TikTok, what do you do next? The pre-screening process is a very important step that helps prevent the wasting of time showing to unsuitable tenants. This chapter talks about the pre-screening form and how you can modify it for each of your own properties.
You cannot discriminate during the pre-screening process, but you do have the right to select the best tenant for your property.
When tenants apply electronically, use a checklist and forward it to them and say " In an attempt to make sure this property is a good fit for you, could you please answer the following questions" and attach the pre-screening checklist. If you're pre-screening by phone, you can ask these questions.
The pre-screening questions allows you to categorize your applicants into the following segments:
- Good Applicant -- answered all your questions and they sound good. This applicant deserves a call for a casual conversation and set up a showing.
- Bad Applicant -- answered all the questions BUT some of the answers are unacceptable. (i.e.: too many people, too many pets, etc.) This applicant gets a gentle rejection to let them know you think the property is not suitable for them ("I think it will be too small for your needs.")
- Bad Applicant -- that DIDN'T ANSWER the questions -- this is a red flag. Follow up if you want to or just move on.
- Questionable Applicant -- If they don't take no for an answer or they claim you're being discriminatory, ignore them as long as possible then let them know you've accepted another family for the property.
As part of the pre-screening process, it's wise to search them on Google and social media to get an indication of their lifestyle.