HOME RENTAL SHOPPING TUTORIAL

Before shopping for anything do your homework. Know what rentals rates are in the nighborhood. You can use our free service Rentomatic which is located on our home menu page. Just enter a rental amount you would like to pay and it will tell you the average for the area. Be informed with what you can afford, have your documents with you, so you can make a deal when you find the rental you want.

1.

Pre-qualify yourself in the majority of cases you must have an income that equals 3 x the rent. This is a good rule of thumb even if a landlord requires less. Any less and you don't have much left for anything else. Some landlords are hungry and will wave income requirements. Look at the foreclosure rates - these are people that took on more house then they could afford. Life is not easy, please don't make it harder for yourself by adding a foreclosure on your record.

2.

Bring copies of a picture ID, Copy of social security card and proof of income. Two years tax returns if self-employed. Have all the vital information with you to fill out application at the showing. If applying on line, you can fax or mail this information after being approved.

3.

If you have filed for bankruptcy, we require two years from discharge before we can rent to you. If you have gone through a foreclosure- we normally will not hold that against you. Especially, if you have a good job, good credit other than the foreclosure

4.

Don't show up at a showing in a U-Haul truck- it suggest that you have been evicted and are temporaly living out of the truck.

5.

Don't use a Motel call back number - a cell phone is better. Property Mangers get nervous about people living in a Motel. It suggests eviction or some other unplanned problem.

6.

Discuss if you have pets before showing. Don't allow pets without permission. It only suggests dishonesty and begins a deteroration of the relationship between you and the landlord.

7.

Don't ask for directions to find the property. Buy a local map. PM's are too busy to return direction calls. If they have a rental line, it should have the directions, and if listing is on line it will have a google map to the site. You will find more detail directions on -line.

8.

Don't ask if the neighborhood is safe. PM's and Owners cannot answer that question because of the potential liability. Go to these sites: This site is quite detalied regading neighborhood profiles such as values, crime, schools, etc. - www.intellius.com. For sex offenders go to www.familysafteyreport.com/freesearch.

9.

Don't lie about a bad situation. The truth will work in your favor - there are some PM's and Owners that are more liberal than others in overlooking problems. Don't try and bluff an experienced property manager. They are like police detectives, they don't believe anything you say unless you have proof. Don't blame them they have learned the hard way.

10.

If you live out of town use someone that can shop for you. Perhaps a relative, friend or better yet a professional service that finds rentals for you.

11.

View the property first before calling with interest to show. The first calls returned are the ones that state " I have seen the property and I am very interested." " We would like a showing as soon as possible."

12.

Don't say that you are desperate and must have a rental now. Suggests that you have been evicted.

We hope this tutorial has been of help and contact us if you need more information.